Headline: Labour’s regional development fund to support Palmerston North

Labour will consider a proposal to develop an inland port at Palmerston North, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“The Palmerston North community has developed plans for an inland port which will bring jobs and economic growth to a region which has been badly neglected by this Government,” says David Cunliffe who has been meeting with people in the Manawatu today.

“We will examine the merits of this proposal for support under our Regional Development Fund. This $200 million fund targets co-investment in infrastructure and industry projects which create economic step-changes for our regions.

“Unemployment in Manawatu/Whanganui has almost doubled under this National Government. But a Labour Government will back the Manawatu. There is a real buzz in Palmerston North about the potential to take this region forward.”

Labour’s MP for Palmerston North Iain Lees-Galloway says an inland port could be great news for the city.

“This is the kind of hope Palmerston North needs after being neglected by the National Government for the past six years. We will also be looking at food innovation projects. The Manawatu could be a leading high-value food incubator with backing from Government.”

The Labour Leader and Iain Lees-Galloway today visited Massey University and Food HQ.

David Cunliffe says Labour’s manufacturing upgrade and research and development tax credits would drive the regional growth Manawatu so desperately needs.

“We need a Government committed to backing regional centres to achieve their potential,” he says.

The Southern DHB is so cash-strapped it is failing to fill nursing rosters, Labour’s Associate Health spokesperson David Clark says.

“Every day emergency department nurses arrive at work knowing they are likely to be carrying more than their recommended workload.

“Nurses have a duty of care and are loyal to the core, so they have put up with additional work and growing stress every day for the last few years. However patient and nurse safety is compromised when professionally recommended staffing ratios are not maintained.

“That’s not helped by the increasing numbers of people turning up at EDs because they can’t afford to go to their own doctor.

“Australasian studies suggest emergency departments maintain a minimum 1:3 nurse to patient ratio of immediately available staff. When a patient is critical more nurses are required. Three nurses are required for each critical patient, leaving fewer available for subsequent patients.

“A stretch ratio of 1:4 is typically operated during shifts at the emergency department in Dunedin, with a 1:5 ratio common at night.

“But it gets worse. A ratio of 1:10 is not unheard of on night shift. On Sunday just past, the nurse to patient ratio dropped to 1:8 for close on an hour. In such situations, one or two critical patients can tie up much of the available staffing resource, leaving the care of subsequent ED arrivals compromised.

“A first-world health system should not put nurses in situations that blatantly breach professional standards. Their goodwill cannot be abused forever, and patient safety is at stake.

“It is clear that National’s underfunding of health is putting patient lives at risk. Labour’s investment in health will ease the pressure on EDs by providing free GP visits to thousands more Kiwis,” David Clark said.

The collapse of log prices due to oversupply in China threatens to wash the gloss off what remains of National’s so-called rock-star economy, says Labour Leader David Cunliffe.

“Already this year the price of milk solids has plunged by more than 40 per cent. Now the price of raw logs has halved in the past six months, highlighting the risk of exporting so much unprocessed timber.

“Almost half the value has been knocked off our expected future milk and wood export receipts in the last few months and that spells economic gloom.

“The timber industry has already lost 500 jobs in the past few months and thousands more are at risk. Our regions will continue to suffer. The knock-on effects will be felt from our rural centres to our cities.

“New Zealanders who already face rising power bills, rising rents and mortgages, rising costs of basics, and static or declining real-term wages, were told by the Government good times were just around the corner. But now they face a terrible hangover without having been to the party.

“Under this National Government more than 600,000 hectares of forestry land has been approved for sale to overseas interests. And instead of processing timber here – keeping local sawmills open, Kiwis in jobs, and adding value to wood products – we are now exporting more than half our logs as raw product. We are then re-importing dressed timber to rebuild Christchurch.

“That is not rock-star economics.

“Labour’s forestry policy will encourage the journey from volume to value in wood products – through tax deferral, R&D tax credits, security of supply, monetary policy to keep interest rates and the New Zealand dollar lower for longer, and a government pro-wood policy.

“We will reinvest in the regions with a $200 million infrastructure development fund.

“Through industry, investment and innovation, we will encourage the development of a diversified, modern, high-value economy – so that when commodity prices fall and the earthquake insurance checks are spent, our children will still have a future.

“National’s foolhardy, short-term approach – to bet the farm and the forest, or worse, sell it – threatens all our futures. A Labour government I lead will not let that happen,” David Cunliffe says.

National’s “keep ’em poor” card for young people on a benefit is a sorry substitute for job training, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Sue Moroney says.

The Government today announced it would extend its payment card scheme to all teen parents and many 18 and 19 year old beneficiaries.

“Labour’s popular KickStart policy gets young job seekers off the unemployment benefitand into apprenticeships by providing employers the equivalent of the dole totake them on for a year as an apprentice.

“That is a far more positive outcome for young New Zealanders than National’sapproach of controlling what young people spend their money on.

“The fact remains that since National took office far too many young peoplehave been left on the scrap heap. That is not a success – it is a tragic wasteof potential.

“It’s past time National woke up to the looming skills shortage facing thecountry. A smart Government with the right policies would be working to fillthe gaps now,” Sue Moroney said.

Working towards being a world leader in eliminating violence against women and children will be a priority for a Labour Government.

Releasing Labour’s Women’s Affairs policy today spokesperson Carol Beaumont said while Labour had a proud track record of achieving change for New Zealand women there was still more to do.

“We are committed to delivering for women because it is overwhelmingly women who are the victims of domestic and sexual violence. It is women who dip out in the income stakes and it is overwhelmingly women who feel they have to return to work earlier than they want to after becoming a parent.

“Labour will take decisive action to stop the unacceptable rates of violence against women and children. We want New Zealand to lead the world in doing that and will start by providing leadership from the Prime Minister down.

“It means adopting a collaborative, long-term Action Plan in consultation with other parties and the sector, ensuring greater resources for frontline support services, primary prevention and education, and reforming the justice system to better provide for survivors, including a review of the operation of protection orders.

“We will ensure that all women have full and equal access to opportunities to develop and progress in the workforce and in society.

“At the moment around 60 per cent of workers aged between 25 and 64 on the minimum wage are women. Labour will increase the minimum wage by $2 an hour to help address the gender pay gap.

“Our plan to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks will allow around 26,000 New Zealand families each year will have extra time with their new born babies.

It is obvious from Tony Ryall’s hasty attack of Labour’s plans to extend free GP visits to older people that he hasn’t bothered to actually read the policy, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

“Mr Ryall’s response to Labour’s comprehensive, fully costed proposal to provide free healthcare to more Kiwis is nothing if not predictable.

“It is somewhat ironic that he and his colleagues can argue that providing free doctors’ visits to under 13-year-olds is a brilliant idea, while doing the same for over 65s, a group who also have some of the highest health needs and are generally on fixed incomes, is dumb.

“Tony Ryall is the man who, for the last six years, has fudged the very real pressures on the health system by bumping patients off waiting lists, denying surgery to patients because they don’t meet stringent pain thresholds and ignoring the rising number of people turning up to emergency departments because they can’t afford to see a GP.

“Labour’s policy has been costed to allow for demographic changes and inflation. On the other hand National has failed to invest enough in health to keep pace with those cost pressures in four out of six Budgets.

“Labour’s focus on primary care – where prevention and early intervention take precedence – makes sense. A sustainable health system that improves health outcomes for all New Zealanders is best for patients and best for taxpayers,” Annette King said.

Under National over one million hectares of land has been approved for overseas sale – 16 times the size of Lake Taupō or the equivalent of five hundred rugby fields a day, Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker says.

“According to the Overseas Investment Office’s records, 1,002,591 hectares of land (10,000 square km) has been approved for sale to wholly and partially controlled overseas interests since John Key took office.

“Half of these land sale approvals (497,842 ha) occurred since John Key promised a ‘crack down’ on the sale of sensitive land to overseas interests.

“We know now that this ‘crack down’ was nothing but a crock. At the same time Bill English was sending a tricky side letter to the OIO defining ‘large’ farms as ten times the size of an average farm, a definition so big as to be meaningless.

“John Key claims the amount of land approved for overseas sale under his government is small, but 10,000 square kms is 16 times the size of Lake Taupō, 3.5 times the size of Samoa, the equivalent of two Auckland super-cities, six Stewart Islands, the Taranaki region, Wellington and Wairarapa combined, or the Tasman region.

“It’s 500 rugby fields a day since National came to power. That’s a lot of land.

“That’s why National refuses to measure the total number of homes sold offshore or the exact amount of rural land being sold to overseas corporates. They refuse to be upfront with New Zealanders as they know Kiwis will be shocked at the scale of sales. Labour will reveal the full amount of overseas ownership in New Zealand when in Government.

“These sales are locking the country into a vicious cycle. With profits and wealth from land going offshore we do not pay our way in the world, our exchange rate is over-inflated and our interest rates are structurally higher. That makes it harder for local investors to buy Kiwi land, which means more land gets sold overseas making us poorer and less able to pay our way in the world.

“The cycle gets worse and worse. With home ownership at the lowest rate in 60 years and dropping, we need to keep New Zealand homes for Kiwis too.

“National promised to fix this four years ago and here we go again. Labour will fix it once and for all. If you have the right to live in New Zealand, you can buy land in New Zealand. In a nutshell no farms to foreigners,” David Parker says.

“We knew that National would try to say that we can’t afford free GP visits and prescriptions for the New Zealanders who need it. But, as David Cunliffe said in his speech today:

‘It’s budgeted, it’s paid for, it’s there in black and white. So when our opponents try to claim that we can’t afford better healthcare for New Zealanders – and they’ll try – they won’t be being honest with the public.’

Mr Joyce has tried every trick in the book in his shoddy attack.

First off, he ignores the fact that National allocated $15 billion of new spending over the next four years in Budget 2014. The difference between Labour and National is we’ve said how much we’ll allocate and how much we will use to reduce debt – National hasn’t.

Mr Joyce has counted over two billion dollars in tax cuts as spending.

Mr Joyce failed to count the half a billion dollars in savings we’ll realise by cancelling bad National policies.

Mr Joyce failed to count the $4 billion in extra revenue.

Mr Joyce’s claims are riddled with what are either amateurish mistakes or intentional errors intended to mislead.

In another example, Mr Joyce asserts the cost of Universal KiwiSaver should be higher than we have shown it because it was projected to cost more back in 2011. He knows that as at July 2011 there were 1.8 million New Zealanders in KiwiSaver. Now there are 2.3 million in KiwiSaver, so there are fewer extra people to bring in. This is obvious.

Mr Joyce was the man who, in the 2011 election forecasts, banked billions from selling off SOEs like our power companies but failed to account for the lower share of profits when the government no longer owned the companies. He denied that during the election and only admitted it when the Treasury showed it to be true.

Labour has presented a fully costed plan that shows we can afford good policies that improve Kiwis’ lives while running surpluses and paying off National’s record debt.

Labour’s plan to make doctor visits and prescriptions free for 1.7 million New Zealanders will mean more people get the medical care they need, it will save families money, and it will reduce cost to the healthcare system by treating problems early.

Today I launched Labour’s election campaign at the Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland. Here is the speech I gave.

E rau rangatira ma

E te whanau o te roopu reipa

Piki mai, kake mai haere mai

Te tangi a te pipiwharauroa

Te Po

Ka Awatea!

Whiti ao – whiti ao – whiti whiti Ao

Hello Labour

Hello New Zealand

Today is about you. It is about the launch of your future, your vision, your belief in creating a better New Zealand.

This election is going to be about a choice – probably one of the clearest that we have had as a country in a generation.

And it’s not just about two leaders, or even a contest between two parties.

This election is fundamentally about two very different pathways totwo very different futures for New Zealand.

It’s a choice between prosperity for all, or only for a few.

It’s a choice between a new path to a higher value, more sustainable future, where every person matters. Or the current path of selling ourselves short and deepening the divides.

I believe – every one of us in the Labour Party believes – that it is people that matter most.

That, at the end of the day, we are all worth exactly the same.

And I believe that our people are a community, and are not commodities.

I believe that when the least fortunate of us does better, we all do better.

I believe that in this country nobody should be left out or left behind.

But I also believe that New Zealand has lost its way.

That after another 3 years, heading in the direction we’re heading, we just won’t know this country.

Our rivers will be dirty. What’s left of our assets will be sold. And so will vast tracts of our land. We will be tenants in our own country.

Is that the choice we want to make?

I don’t think so.

Labour refuses to stand by and letthis generation of young New Zealanders become the first to do worse than their parents.

It wasn’t that long ago that we were considered to be the small, smart jewel of the South Pacific.

A creative, plucky country punching well above our weight. Where everyone could dare to dream the Kiwi dream, where if you worked hard and played by the rules – everyone, not just some, could get ahead.

We need to reclaim that vision, and make it our own again.

We can and we will.

We will do it for the mother of two teenage boys who works 60 hours a week cleaning and cannot sleep from worry that she doesn’t have enough time to keep them on the rails.

We’ll do it for the little kid in West Auckland admitted to Starship because of respiratory disease caused by the black mould growing in the bedroom in his cold, damp home.

We’ll do it for the professional couple in Christchurch who’ve been waiting for three years for the insurance cheque that means they can finally move on with their lives.

And for the grandmother who sits in her cold flat wrapped in blankets because she cannot pay both the power bill and the doctor.

We’ll do it for the small manufacturer who is laying off workers – his own mates – for the third time as his business slowly, but surely, goes under, due to the high Kiwi dollar.

A Labour government will make New Zealand a fairer place, and a better place.

By strengthening the right of every New Zealander to have a warm, dry, comfortable home.

By strengthening, not neglecting, support for our schools, hospitals and universities.

By building, not deferring, a high-value, high knowledge, sustainable economy that will create good jobs.

It’s called a better New Zealand.

Decent jobs are at the core of any decent society. It’s what we in Labour have always stood for.

These policies, like all our policies, have been carefully costed as part of our fiscal plan.

It’s budgeted, it’s paid for, it’s there in black and white.

So when our opponents try to claim that we can’t afford better healthcare for New Zealanders – and they’ll try – they won’t be being honest with the public.

And they know it.

Labour’s vision for New Zealand is to build the fairest, most decent society in the world.

The choice to come

What this election is fundamentally about is a choice. And it’s all of our choice.

New Zealanders, we can choose decent jobs for all.

We can choose great education for all.

We can choose kids growing up healthy, warm, and well fed.

We can choose an economy where people can pay their bills, and meet their mortgages and get ahead.

And of course we can choose decent healthcare for those who need it.

Together we can choose to build a society where there is fairness for all New Zealanders, not just the top few percent. Where everyone has the opportunity and aspiration to reach all our potential.

But, sadly, the path our country has been on won’t get us there.

It cannot. It will not.

The current path doesn’t live up to the truest Kiwi values of fairness, decency and respect. Those values that made our country great.

We need to apply those values to the new world of the 21st century so we can build a future where we all succeed together.

I know it’s easy to be cynical about elections. About the sideshows, about the relentless negativity.

And every election we hear voices telling us that there is no alternative and nothing will ever change.

That the problems are all someone else’s fault, or they’re all too hard to solve.

That we should just be happy with what we’ve got because fairness and decency is too much to ask for, and we shouldn’t rock the boat.

We’ve seen where politics as usual gets us.

We’ve seen more children in poverty, more people locked out of home ownership, more families finding their incomes cannot keep up with the rising cost of living.

We know that we can do better. We know we can deliver change for a better New Zealand.

In this election, we can change all of that together.

This election is going to be very close. The choice is here, the choice is now, the choice is real, and it’s ours to make, starting today.

If we want to change the path our country is on, we have to change the government first.

In this election we can chose to lift kids out of poverty, to put our people back to work, to create new businesses, to harness new technology. We can choose to build new homes, support our families and, together, build the fairest, most decent society in the world.

We can choose to do this. We can do this together.

If you want to build a better future for your family and your country.

If you want an end to politics as usual and to build a New Zealand that works for everyone.

If you won’t settle for the past and you want to reach for the future.

Nearly 40 per cent of Kiwis – or 1.7 million people – will be eligible for free doctors’ visits and free prescriptions under a Labour Government, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“Last year more than half a million New Zealanders didn’t go to their doctor when they needed to because of the cost. A quarter of a million didn’t pick up a prescription for the same reason.

“When people get sick their ability to pay shouldn’t be a barrier to getting good healthcare, which is why Labour is committed to progressively reducing health costs across the board as economic conditions allow.

“Our initial focus is on people with the highest health needs and health costs. Today I am announcing that Labour will make GP visits and prescriptions free for nearly 700,000 Kiwis aged 65 and over, children aged up to 13 and pregnant women, who are currently entitled to free primary care in relation to their pregnancy, but not for other medical needs. Mums to be will also receive free dental care.

“We will also extend and improve the Care Plus programme which supports people with chronic or serious long term health conditions. That means an extra 250,000 New Zealanders will receive an extra four free doctors’ visits each year, along with a comprehensive wellness plan.

“Labour wants to keep Kiwis well. We will do that by providing accessible, affordable and effective advice and care before people get seriously ill, placing an emphasis on public and primary healthcare.

“It is about ensuring all New Zealanders live in a healthy, warm home, that no child lives in poverty and that everyone has the same opportunities in life.

“Our investment in healthcare has been fully costed and is part of Labour’s plan to run a surplus every year and pay off National’s debt.

“That investment will see 1.7 million New Zealanders, or nearly 40 per cent of Kiwis, getting free GP visits and prescriptions. 60,000 expectant mothers a year will also be able to get free dental care.

“Addressing health needs earlier saves money in the long term. Keeping people well through effective public and primary healthcare is the right thing to do for our families and for New Zealand,” David Cunliffe said.

Accident compensation for loss of potential earnings will rise under a Labour Government, while people not earning at the time of their accident will also be eligible for compensation, Labour’s ACC spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says.

Releasing Labour’s ACC policy today he said Labour believes everyone should get a fair deal from ACC.

“That means those who are entitled to cover will get it. At the moment some groups are disproportionally disadvantaged.

“Currently claimants injured before they have the opportunity to begin earning are eligible for support equal to 80 per cent of the higher of the minimum weekly wage or 125 per cent of the invalid’s benefit.

“We will increase compensation for loss of potential earnings to 80 per cent of the median wage. We don’t think it’s right to assume that a person who is injured at an early age would have earned only the minimum wage had the injury not occurred.

“An unfair anomaly that means people who were not earning at the time they had an accident but are working when they become incapacitated do not receive weekly compensation, will also be scrapped under a Labour government.

“We will also investigate the introduction of a flat levy on all employers to fund occupational disease claims.

“While National has justified massive levy increases with its claims that ACC was in crisis, ACC recorded a surplus in 2012/13 of $4.9 billion, far in excess of what it needs. Despite advice from MBIE and ACC to cut levies, the Government has kept them unnecessarily high to achieve surplus.

“Labour will review levies to ensure they are not higher than needed to meet real costs of entitlements, and cut them if affordable.

“ACC has a proven track record. A Labour Government will ensure it is maintained as a publicly-owned social insurance scheme for all New Zealanders, with an increased focus on rehabilitation and long-term injury prevention,” Iain Lees-Galloway said.

The Minister of Pacific Island Affairs can boast all he wants about changes to employment statistics for Pacific people but the reality for many Pacific people is nowhere close to National’s promised brighter future, Labour’s Pacific Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio says.

“While everyone welcomes the slight improvements in unemployment figures, the fact is that at 11.4% Pacific unemployment is still higher than for Pakeha, Women, Maori and Asian groups.

“Unemployment is even worse for Pacific youth aged 15-24 years at 23.8%.

“The work by the Auckland Action Against Poverty in the last 3 days in Mangere has highlighted just how out of touch National is with the plight of many local unemployed and working Kiwis. Not only are families struggling to put food on the table doing part-time casual work, but they are also been penalised by WINZ imposed sanctions.

“This is terrible treatment for people who are desperate through no fault of their own other than they are not getting their fair share of the economic improvements this government is talking up.

“The HLFS shows almost 100,000 kiwis are underemployed, people in work that require more hours, and more than 236,000 are jobless.

“The evidence is clear from our communities that when National says they are working for all New Zealanders, the people of Mangere know that they are really only working for their rich mates.

“We know that only 177 individuals and families on the NZ Rich list collectively increased their wealth by $3.3 billion to a combined total of $ 51.2 billion dollars. That’s more than 20% of the NZ gross domestic product.

”The reality for many Kiwis is despite their hard work life is just plain tough. That’s why Labour is focussed on providing better working opportunities and higher wages. We will support families with young children and make sure all our children get the best start in life.”

Labour has sent a clear message to New Zealanders with the release of its Water policy; we will clean up New Zealand’s rivers and lakes over a generation, says Labour’s Water spokesperson Meka Whaitiri.

“National’s Amy Adams is just plain wrong when she says the policy is ‘a pointed attack’ on rural New Zealand. We are making a truly aspirational target for cleaner water in both the countryside and our cities over 25 years .

“We are committed to encouraging the fair and efficient use of our precious public freshwater resource through a fair priced resource rental on large takes for irrigation. That is just being fair and cannot be seen as an attack on our farmers.

“We will adopt a National Water Policy based on the Sheppard report that will set standards and a timeline by which those standards will be achieved.

New Zealand cannot have a healthy economy without a healthy environment and healthy waterways play a critical part in New Zealand’s future. The bottom line is – we need to do more and to do it quickly if we are to turn around the decline of our water.

“Labour believes that the sustainable use of our water is critical to an ongoing agricultural sector and the protection of our rivers and lakes is vital. It is an important part of keeping the clean brand we use to maintain our share in our international markets.”

]]>Teachers line up for last chance at democracyhttps://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/07/teachers-line-up-for-last-chance-at-democracy/
Thu, 07 Aug 2014 03:00:41 +0000http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/07/teachers-line-up-for-last-chance-at-democracy/MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party –

Headline: Teachers line up for last chance at democracy

Plans by National to scrap the democratically-elected Teachers Council have prompted 37 nominations for just four places, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“This is the last chance teachers have to elect their own council before the Government replaces it with the newly formed Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (EDUCANZ).

“Education Minister Hekia Parata has cited low voter turnout as a justification for doing away with elections altogether. That’s clearly caught people’s attention and the high interest in this year’s council election shows just how much teachers value their voice.

“For a professional body to be effective it must have the confidence and support of those that it seeks to govern. EDUCANZ won’t have that support because teachers feel so disempowered as a result of its creation.

“Submissions to the select committee considering this change overwhelmingly opposed the removal of democracy from the teaching profession. In fact, the Government’s wider education reforms were completely opposed by 91 per cent, or 855 of 937 submitters.

“Labour believes teachers should have their own voice.

“A Labour Government will guarantee their right to elect their own representatives to their professional body,” Chris Hipkins says.

A Labour government will boost career opportunities in the cultural sector by establishing 200 new creative apprenticeships, Labour’s Arts, Culture and Heritage spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.

Releasing Labour’s Arts, Culture and Heritage policy this afternoon she said the apprenticeships offer the kind of flexible, open-minded and innovative approach to training New Zealand’s creative industries are known for.

“They will provide a clear pathway for people wanting creative careers to gain a nationally-recognised Diploma or Certificate qualification, and will be especially useful for community arts organisations, theatres, and galleries, who may not always have the certainty, confidence and support required to take on people in an apprentice role.

“New Zealanders are strong supporters of the arts and are proud of this country’s artistic achievements. Labour wants to continue to develop the arts sector to ensure its talents continue to be valued here and internationally.

“That means we will continue to invest in Creative New Zealand, and directly support other institutions of national significance. Creative New Zealand will be structured so that it is practitioner led, includes independent top level Maori and Pacific representation and is focused on supporting artists rather than bureaucrats. It will be tasked with reviewing processes and funding criteria.

“The contribution our screen industry makes to both the economy and our cultural identity is well-known. Labour’s continued support for the New Zealand film industry includes reviewing the new incentives regime to ensure benefits to the domestic industry are maximised.”

A Labour Government will also:

Reinstate the Artists in Schools Programme and establish a network of Children’s Art Houses

Reinstate the Pathways to Arts and Cultural Employment (PACE) scheme, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the cultural sector through investment in tertiary education and professional development

Provide opportunities for game and animation innovation

Support NZ Book Month as an annual event and review the public lending right for authors

Re-establish Archives NZ and the National Library as independent entities

Investigate the possibility of an archive for New Zealand music

Investigate a National Policy Statement on Heritage

“A strong arts and cultural sector is not a nice to have. It is a fundamental part of a modern, creative, high-wage economy,” Jacinda Ardern said.

A Labour Government remains committed to ensuring the owners of the Rena fully remove the wreck off the Astrolabe Reef, says Labour’s Environment spokesperson Moana Mackey.

“The images on 3 News last night of the rubbish that surrounds the wreck show that the clean-up has a long way to go.

“It is staggering that so much wreckage remains in the debris field that even the owners have agreed must be removed.

“The Government has to come clean on what it now intends to do with the rest of the Rena. John Key’s claim that any salvage will be too expensive has to be seen for what it is, meanness when it comes to the environment.

“Already the Waitangi Tribunal in an interim decision has found that the Crown has breached the principles of the Treaty in the case of the Rena. Will the Prime Minister wait until the tribunal has had its final word.

“The next crucial step for the Bay of Plenty will be tomorrow’s deadline for public submissions on the resource consent by the owners to leave most of the ship’s hull on the sea floor. I urge the people of the Bay to make their feelings known before they run out of time.

“The owners admit that nearly 80 per cent of the Rena is still on the reef and claim that it is beyond salvage. Labour wants the maximum clean-up with the maximum liability attached to the owners.”

National MPs on Parliament’s Social Services Select Committee have wimped out on cleaning up slum boarding houses, says Labour’s housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

The committee has just reported back to Parliament the results of an inquiry into whether current regulations are up to the job of ensuring decent conditions in boarding houses.

“Some boarding houses are a last resort for people who would otherwise be homeless, and the inquiry heard that some tenants are putting up with unsafe, unsanitary and unhealthy living conditions. It is not good enough that vulnerable people are left to rot in slum conditions.

“Unfortunately the National MPs on the committee refused to take the obvious step of setting up a licensing regime that would see rogue operators denied a license to operate.

“They were content to wring their hands about the problem, but when it came down to solutions the best they could come up with was to ask government agencies to share information, and to ask Councils to be more proactive in enforcing standards.

“The current laws and regulations on boarding houses are a joke. There is a mish-mash of outdated laws, no proper set of minimum standards, and no agency clearly responsible for enforcement. No wonder rogue boarding house landlords can rent out slum accommodation with impunity.

“The next Labour-led Government will introduce a positive licensing regime for boarding houses based on a clear set of minimum standards. Boarding house operators will have to apply for a license, and rogue operators will be shown the door. We will do a thorough legislative review to update the rules, and mandate local government responsibility for enforcement.

“It is simply not on for some of the country’s most vulnerable people to be allowed to languish in Victorian-era slum conditions.”

Headline: Labour promises swimmable rivers and lakes over a generation

A Labour Government will ensure that all New Zealand’s water lakes and rivers are swimmable, fishable and suitable for food gathering, says Labour’s water spokesperson Meka Whaitiri announcing Labour’s Water policy.

To clean up the nation’s freshwater inside a generation, Labour will introduce a National Policy Statement based on the principles of the Sheppard report which will enforce standards and dates when those standards have to be met.

“Our clean rivers and lakes must not be allowed to get dirty, and our dirty rivers and lakes must be cleaned up.

“As part of our clean-up we will also be introducing a fairly priced resource rental on any large water takes for irrigation.

“We believe that the use of water for irrigation is a privilege, not an inalienable right. A resource rental is the best tool for making sure fresh water is used efficiently. However we will support proposals for water storage and irrigation schemes provided they have a broad consensus from their communities.

“Labour will use resource rentals to pay for irrigation schemes rather than paying for them out of tax and asset sales.

“Dirty water is not just a rural issue and we will ensure our cities and towns carefully monitor industrial and domestic waste. Labour will also seek to resolve iwi and hapu rights and interest in freshwater through direct dialogue.

“We will not allow the privatisation of our drinking water, whether its supply or infrastructure. We are opposed to any trading of water and under a Labour government water surpluses will be returned to regional councils,” Meka Whaitiri said.

Taxpayers are unable to hold the Government to account for its multi million dollar Primary Growth Partnership slush fund before next month’s election, Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor says.

“The Office of the Auditor General agreed to look into this programme last June. Although more than a year has passed, the Office has informed Labour its report will not be released until after the election.

“The Primary Growth Partnership programme continues to be an unaccountable slush fund for the National Party’s industry mates.

“It was set up with much fanfare and promises; and $350 million of taxpayer money.

“But despite the public relations and government spin, there has been no evidence this money is being well spent.

“The Government has failed to provide accountability on its Primary Growth Partnership programmes.

“Questions must be now be asked as to whether the Government has interfered to ensure this report is not made public before the election – and what they are trying to hide,” Damien O’Connor says.

The next Labour Government will keep rural and residential land in Kiwi hands, Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker says.

“New Zealanders are sick of seeing their farms and homes sold to overseas buyers with the profits and opportunities going offshore. No overseas person has the right to buy our land.

“In all but the rarest of cases, sales of rural land to overseas buyers will be banned. Non-resident investors will also be banned from buying existing Kiwi homes.

“Changing who owns what already exists does nothing to increase New Zealand’s output. It just sells off New Zealand’s profit stream and kills off the Kiwi dream of owning our farms and homes.

“Labour will reverse the current approach so that overseas buyers of rural land will have to prove they will create more jobs and exports than any New Zealand investor. Given New Zealanders are among the best farmers in the world it is an extremely hard hurdle to get over.

“This will ensure our farms are not priced out of the reach of New Zealanders.

“We will also limit the discretion of the minister to ignore recommendations from the Overseas Investment Office.

“Labour will also restrict sales of residential homes to any non-residents unless they intend to move here, helping to keep the Kiwi home ownership dream alive, especially for young New Zealanders currently locked out of the housing market.

“The National Government is ignoring the legitimate concerns of New Zealanders about New Zealand land and houses being sold to overseas interests.

“Instead of accusing New Zealanders of being xenophobic, John Key and Steven Joyce should respect New Zealanders’ desire to keep New Zealand land in New Zealand hands,” David Parker says.

Industrial action being taken by DHB workers is a direct result of prolonged and chronic underfunding of the sector by National, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

“Labour has been warning of a blow-out for some time following increasing pressure being placed on our district health boards.

“Not only has the Government ordered them to save $700 million by 2015, but Treasury’s own modelling shows this year’s health budget has been cut by 2.3 per cent in real terms.

“Put that alongside funding claw-backs in several DHBs whose communities have significant health needs but where the census shows populations have fallen, vacancies not being filled and funding freezes to NGOs, and it is services that ultimately suffer.

“DHB staff have become the meat in the funding sandwich and they have obviously had enough.

“Labour believes access to good health care is the right of every New Zealander, and for that you need a well-supported workforce.

“Good health should not be determined by your ethnicity, where you happen to live or your ability to pay.

“Under a Labour Government funding will keep pace with inflationary costs, setting aside $1 billion a year for health and education initiatives. We will set priorities that take a long term approach to eliminate inequalities in health and improve the health of all Kiwis,” Annette King said.

A Labour Government will invest $183 million into a comprehensive package aimed at ensuring all New Zealanders under the age of 20 are in work or training by the end of our first term, Labour’s Employment, Skills and Training spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

“There are 75,000 Kiwis aged 15 to 24 who are not in work, education or training. That’s 11 per cent of our young people; double the unemployment rate of the rest of the population.

“Labour is targeting the under 20s because at that age young people make critical decisions about their careers which can determine their pathway in life. Our Youth Employment Package will reach the 24,000 unemployed Kiwis under 20.

“We will also implement a Contract with Youth to target those most in need of intensive support to give them meaningful alternatives to a life on a benefit.

“This includes Kick Start Apprenticeships which will provide employers who take on unemployed 18 and 19-year-olds permanently with a $9,100 subsidy – the equivalent of the dole. There will be 12,000 apprenticeship places over the four years.

“We will fund an additional 2,000 Maori Trades Training places to help address disproportionately high unemployment rates among young Maori. These places will be established through partnerships between tertiary providers, iwi and industry training organisations for key sectors such as fishing and forestry. Labour will also establish 1,500 training places for the some of the 40 per cent of 15 to 19 year old Pasifika people who are unemployed.

“National’s failed boot camps which have a reoffending rate of 83 per cent will be scrapped. Instead we will re-launch the Conservation Corps with 1,500 places in a full-time 20-week course which mixes conservation work, vocational training and confidence building.

“Labour will also reform careers advice to ensure young New Zealanders are helped as they train and move into work. At present this advice ends at school and the quality is highly variable.

“We will disestablish Careers New Zealand and have a different body to oversee our strategy with input from schools, employers, tertiary training providers and careers experts. Labour will commit $17 million to provide more secondary teachers and other staff to improve careers guidance and support in school and out in the community.

“A Labour Government will give young people a way to reach their full potential, and at the same time, create a world class training system that meets the needs of workers, employers and the economy,” Grant Robertson says.

The National government’s refusal to restrict cheap international units under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has caused significant damage to the carbon forestry sector according to new figures released today says Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Moana Mackey.

“Only 0.3% of units surrendered under the ETS in 2013 were forestry units. This is just 141,253 units compared to the 5,325,191 surrendered in 2010.

“99.5% of units surrendered by polluters to meet their obligations were international units.

“It is also deeply concerning that more than 700 foresters left the scheme last year.

“Labour has been calling on the government to restrict access to these cheap units since 2012.

“Labour will support the forestry sector by restricting cheap international units, removing the two for one subsidy for polluters, and fixing the ETS. Labour is also promising a forestry sector upgrade which will drive growth in the forestry and wood processing sector .

“The only reason we came out of the first commitment period of Kyoto in the black was because we planted enough trees to offset out ever-increasing gross greenhouse gas emissions. However instead of supporting forestry to grow, the government inexplicably has declared an all-out war on the sector.

“We are heading towards the edge of a cliff post-2020. We need to be providing incentives to plant trees now to offset the level of deforestation which we know is coming.”

]]>Sacrifices of World War One never forgottenhttps://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/04/sacrifices-of-world-war-one-never-forgotten/
Sun, 03 Aug 2014 23:45:37 +0000http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/04/sacrifices-of-world-war-one-never-forgotten/MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party –

Headline: Sacrifices of World War One never forgotten

As we today mark 100 years since the beginning of World War One, we remember a time of grief and loss which defined New Zealand as a nation, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“The Great War broke and refashioned so many ideas of who we are. It hurled humanity into the modern era and gave birth to a new international age.

“It was a time of great loss and a century later the sheer weight of that loss remains with us. Of more than 100,000 New Zealanders sent to war, nearly one-sixth were killed and more than 40,000 wounded. That was a heavy toll from a country of just over a million people.

“The effects of World War One rippled through the country; farms were left empty, families were forever damaged by the loss of fathers, husbands and brother.

“Out of that loss grew a new way of thinking about ourselves as a nation. We learnt to value our sense of independence, our uniqueness and our drive for self-determination. We became an independent nation.

“From the beaches of Anzac Cove to the barbed wire fence-strewn fields of the Western Front, we remember and celebrate our troops and those who supported them.

“It was called the ‘war to end wars’ but sadly the horrors of war are still as apparent as ever.

“Today we not only remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in World War One but those who are currently dying and suffering in Gaza, Israel, Syria, the Ukraine and Central Africa,” David Cunliffe says.

As we gather on the eve of the 100 year anniversary of the commencement of World War 1, and we see conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Syria and the Central African Republic transported into our living rooms on a daily basis, it is worth reflecting on the causes and effects of war and the time it takes for people and countries to recover from even a limited, conventional weapons war. Generations are wiped out, countrysides littered with the enduring, indiscriminate evil of land mines, children traumatised and permanently damaged by malnutrition from broken food supply, artefacts of historical, cultural and religious significance ruined beyond restoration. People, places and societies, ruined for a long time.

But we are here to commemorate the dropping of two bombs only. Just two. This week we remember the horrific and nation-changing effect of the release of two nuclear bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

A uranium atomic bomb (Little Boy) was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by a plutonium bomb (Fat Man) on Nagasaki on August 9. Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 60,000–80,000 in Nagasaki; roughly half of the deaths in each city occurred on the first day. During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by illness. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians.

They were the worst of all bombs and the start of nuclear escalation, despite the horrifying and barbaric effects the world witnessed amongst the survivors and on the land of Japan. Generations wiped out; countryside and waterways contaminated by radiation; diseases such as cancer lingering on in generations to come. It was the poisoning of a country, not just death on a vast and enduring scale.

Instead of turning away from the development of these catastrophic weapons, countries plunged headlong into refining, ‘improving’, enlarging and stockpiling them. It became a race to see who could arm themselves first and best. Now, the detonation of even a very small proportion of these new super-sized nuclear devices could have climatic, environmental, food supply and humanitarian effects which will bring the planet to its knees. And yet the doctrine of deterrence remains an argument still entertained internationally by nuclear powers and those who wish to become nuclear powers. This doctrine says that the very existence of nuclear weapons deters countries from using them. That is a zero sum game, if ever there was one.

The lunacy of this ideology is only now beginning to turn. The best deterrence is clearly no nuclear weapons at all. New moves in recent years for Russia and the USA to agree to reduce their stockpile of weapons is a glimmer of hope that many of us previously despaired that we would ever see. The United Nations’ Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, released a Five-Point Proposal for Disarmament a few years ago which fell into a thunderous silence. But now there is new interest in it and in the UN General Assembly’s Open-Ended Working Group on Disarmament.

It is my pleasure today to announce Labour’s Disarmament policy.

Labour will reinstate the Cabinet position of Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control. We will re-enter the movement through the United Nations towards a world free from nuclear weapons.

We believe we can play a crucial role in seizing the new opportunities emerging internationally to support ongoing progress towards a nuclear weapons-free world. A Labour-led government would have New Zealand participate with vigour once again in multilateral fora to advance nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

We need legal, enforceable mechanisms to build a secure world. New Zealand should join forces with other countries to promote international legislative solutions with respect to the enforcement of treaties, including outlawing the development, stockpiling, threat of use and use of nuclear weapons through the International Criminal Court.

The UN Secretary General’s Five-Point Proposal for nuclear disarmament highlights the need to build progressively through negotiation, international treaties, pacts and agreements which alter the perception of security and methods of achieving it.

A Labour-led government will promote the UN Five-Point Proposal through leadership, influence and conviction, bringing our own experience of nuclear-free legislation to bear.

We will also seek to contribute to the UNGA’s Open-Ended Working Group on nuclear disarmament.

Labour also believes that civil society groups committed to a nuclear disarmament agenda play an integral part in the development of a secure world. People power brought us the nuclear-free legislation, with a willing government. People power will again advance a nuclear-free agenda. Labour will consult with the NGO sector to determine priorities and the efforts needed to achieve our aims.

Countries which already have domestic or regional nuclear weapons bans such as New Zealand and the Latin American countries, can engage with other countries either similarly located or similar in outlook, to examine ways of expanding networks of nuclear-free countries and their territorial waters. This could result in an expansion of existing regional agreements or the establishment of new nuclear-free regions. This is one way in which our experience of nuclear-free legislation might be shared with other countries.

Labour is also pleased at the adoption of theArms Trade Treaty in April 2013 and our signing of it along with a large number of UN member states. The international regulation of the arms trade is essential if conflicts are going to be initiated or exacerbated by the irresponsible trade in conventional weapons. We recognise the sovereign right of countries to defend themselves but the illegal transfer of weapons into international hotspots for lucrative gain must be stopped.

Labour will continue to promote the Arms Trade Treaty, in particular seeking its entry into force as soon as possible. We will complete all necessary domestic procedures so that New Zealand can ratify the Treaty in the near future.

We know what modern nuclear weapons can do. We don’t need to detonate them to find out. What we do need to do is join with like-minded countries to build an enforceable resistance to their existence. This is no longer wishful thinking. It is now a matter of survival, of the planet and of our very species.

A Labour Government will prioritise helping to create a nuclear weapons-free world by reinstating the Minister of Disarmament as a Cabinet position, Labour’s Disarmament and Arms Control spokesperson Maryan Street says.

“New Zealand once led the world with our anti-nuclear stance and promotion of disarmament in international forums.

“The humanitarian consequences of any nuclear conflict are too horrific to contemplate and the international community has renewed its efforts recently to reduce nuclear weapons stockpiles and the threat of nuclear war.

“As we commemorate the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki this week, we also reflect on how much more dangerous the world has become with nuclear weapons proliferation.

“There is now an opportunity for New Zealand to play a crucial leadership role in the international community by supporting ongoing progress towards a nuclear weapons-free world.

“Labour is committed to participating in these multilateral non-proliferation forums with vigour. That is why a Labour Government will:

Promote the United Nations Secretary General’s five point proposal for disarmament and model nuclear weapons convention.

Contribute to the UN General Assembly’s Open Ended Working Group on nuclear disarmament.

Complete all the necessary domestic procedures so New Zealand can ratify the Arms Trade Treaty signed last year.

Consult with the NGO sector to determine the priorities and efforts needed to achieve our goal.

“A Labour Government will ensure that nuclear-free Aotearoa once again takes a leadership role in nuclear disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons,” Maryan Street says.

Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford has lodged an official complaint against Housing Minister Nick Smith with Parliament’s Speaker for refusing to release data on the number of vacant state houses around the country.

“Nick Smith is clearly embarrassed by the high number of Housing NZ properties lying empty and boarded up. The total was 2,734 back in May when the Minister last released the numbers,” says Phil Twyford.

“It is a travesty that National should allow so many houses to lie vacant in the middle of a housing crisis when so many people desperately need a roof over their heads.

“But that is no excuse for Nick Smith to withhold that information from the public.

“I have routinely been provided this information by the Minister’s office in the past. But on the eve of the election campaign Dr Smith seems to have shut up shop. Refusing to answer written parliamentary questions is a breach of Parliament’s Standing Orders and that’s why I have complained to the Speaker.

“Attached below is a copy of Dr Smith’s highly selective and partial answer to my question. His office has refused to answer it properly.”

06402 (2014) Published – Housing – Corrected Reply

Question: How many Housing New Zealand homes were recorded as vacant as a number and in percentage of total Housing New Zealand stock, broken down by reason, number of bedrooms, by HNZ Reporting Office and region, and in total, in the month of June 2014 quarter, if any?

Portfolio: Housing

Minister: Hon Dr Nick Smith

Date Lodged:08/07/2014

Answer Text: Housing New Zealand advises that the number of vacant and ready to let properties was 629 properties or 0.92 percent of the total housing stock. The numbers by region are: • Community Group Housing: 9 • East and South Auckland: 105 • Northland and Western and Central Auckland: 128 • Southern Region: 88 • Waikato, Bay of Plenty, East Coast and Taranaki: 78 • Wellington, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay: 221 I do not consider it a good use of Housing New Zealand’s time to break down this information by number of bedrooms. This is also my answer to parliamentary question 06405 (2014).

Minister of Labour Simon Bridges should cut the tired old rhetoric about rises in the minimum wage causing job losses and understand New Zealand has a serious problem with low wages and working poverty that needs to be addressed, Labour’s spokesperson on Labour Issues Andrew Little says.

“The claim that increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour before Christmas and then to $16.25 next April will cost jobs just isn’t supported by New Zealand’s experience under the last Labour government, nor by overseas research.

“The last Labour government increased the minimum wage by 70 per cent over nine years and had the lowest level of unemployment in the OECD shortly before its term ended.

“The same government more than doubled the training rate over the same time, and youth unemployment went down. It has been over 22 per cent since 2009, even after the National government introduced youth rates and the 90-day law.

“Recent research by the US Department of Labour found that a review of 64 studies on minimum wage increases found no discernible effect on employment, and a UK Low Pay Commission study confirmed minimum wages boosts workers’ pay and doesn’t harm employment.

“We have a problem with a growing number of working poor and it is imperative we lift incomes.

“This is what Labour stands for through a comprehensive economic upgrade to move our economy up the value chain and by regulating sensibly, such as with the minimum wage,” Andrew Little said.

“Mr Joyce deliberately obfuscated and refused to answer questions on the actual connection numbers to both rural and broadband schemes in Parliament today in an attempt to cover up the National Government’s sluggish progress on both schemes

“Steven Joyce needs to front up rather than playing cagey at question time. Not doing so only increases suspicions the numbers might be embarrassing.

“A report released last week for the Commerce Commission by True Net showed that the speed of rural copper broadband had declined in the last two years. Communities across New Zealand are becoming increasingly frustrated and unable to properly function with low broadband speeds and lack of availability of affordable broadband.

“While Mr Joyce couldn’t provide a percentage figure for the numbers connected to the taxpayer-funded rural fibre broadband scheme, a report by the Auditor General in May raised concerns about that rollout.

“The Government has serious questions to answer about why it can’t – or won’t – provide accurate figures on take-up and what the state of rural connectivity actually is.

“There are rural businesses struggling to make a living, children who need to do their homework but can’t connect, and families unable to access internet television and take advantage of the opportunities offered to their urban cousins.

“After six years of a National Government more than one in five New Zealanders still don’t have regular access to the internet and 62,000 households with school-aged children don’t have access to the internet at home.

“While National is overseeing a slow crawl to an ultrafast highway the digital divide in both urban and rural New Zealand is increasing,” Clare Curran says.

“Mr McCully said he had received no information about the Malaysian diplomat leaving New Zealand under diplomatic immunity after being charged for assault with intent to rape and burglary.

“Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade sent an email on the 22nd of May about the diplomat’s departure to McCully’s office, the Minister said he was travelling at the time and there was ‘no communication capability’.

“But according to the Visa card charged to his office, when the email was sent he was in New York, a city that has excellent internet access.

“More significantly, the Visa bill also shows a $14.95 charge for internet access to the hotel room.

“His excuses for being completely unaware and showing any interest in an alleged serious crime can no longer be taken seriously,” said David Shearer.

“He has blamed MFAT officials and no internet connection for not knowing about a significant development in this case.

“It is a sad indictment that Minister McCully refuses to take any responsibility for the affair.

“What’s worse is that the terms of reference for the investigation that he established into the bungling only looks at MFAT operations and excludes the actions of him and his office.”

The Government’s plan to roll a number of helpline services together looks set to proceed with disastrous consequences, Labour’s Associate Health Spokesperson David Clark says.

Latest reports suggest Australian company Medibank is the most likely provider.

“If Medibank wins the contract to supply helpline services, the 0800 Poison Helpline is likely to be put on life support. Its 50th anniversary in December may well turn into a wake.

“Medibank has indicated to existing providers that it intends to cherry-pick the easy helpline calls and refer the more difficult calls – or those from paramedics, ambulance officers and emergency departments – on to the National Poisons Centre.

“That will mean a dramatic reduction in the number of calls fielded by the National Poisons Centre and a reduction in staff numbers.

“A loss of staff will compromise the integrity of the National Poisons database since currently the same experts who update that are the ones who field the calls.

“If the database is not maintained to its present standard, it will become an unviable proposition.

“Otago University currently provides a heavy subsidy to the National Poisons Centre. It is hard to imagine them carrying more cost to support a lower quality model with the risks that represents.

“If the Government doesn’t intervene to remove the Poisons line from the amalgamation, we may end up with both a diminished service and higher costs.

“Every New Zealander has the right to expect timely health advice in an emergency.

“It is best practice to have a stand-alone service and New Zealand would be unique in the western world in doing away with a stand-alone service,” David Clark said.

Petition to save the helpline: http://action.labour.org.nz/savethepoisonshelpline#top

National Government reasons for rejecting a recommendation by the Law Commission to give veterans a payment to cover funeral expenses don’t stack up, says Labour’s Veterans’ Affairs spokesperson, Phil Goff.

The Veterans’ Support Bill passed its Third Reading in Parliament last night, excluding the payment recommended by the Commission and supported by the RSA and veterans.

“The National Party’s decision, supported by the Māori Party and Peter Dunne, to reject the Law Commission’s recommendation is mean-spirited and penny pinching.

“Next Monday we will honour the service of all veterans when we commemorate the start of World War One a hundred years ago.

“I’m sure the Government’s tributes to all who have put their lives at risk in service of their country will be sincere. However for the political parties who rejected the gesture of thanks towards veterans for their service proposed by the Law Commission, statements of gratitude will ring a little hollow.

“The Government has declined to follow the recommendation with the comment ‘not at this time’ and the promise to review the decision in the future.

“But the fact is that 28 per cent of our veterans will have passed on over the next five years. As veterans have said to me ‘they’ll give it to us when we’re all bloody dead’.

“The payment acknowledges the cost borne by families separated for long periods from their loved ones and the anxiety about their well-being. It also acknowledges that families shared in the cost of the trauma suffered by veterans and the effects it had often throughout their lives.

“The cost is small, $7.4 million a year declining by $1 million every two years as the ranks of our veterans thin. This is less than the amount which has been cut from payments to veterans each and every year under this Government’s term in office.

“Those who have benefitted from the sacrifices made by our parents and grandparents’ generation can surely acknowledge our debt to them by making this small gesture. In Government, Labour will move quickly to legislate to provide this payment to our veterans,” Phil Goff said.

A Labour Government will set up Centres of Vocational Excellence to boost training and innovation in industries that are vital to our economy and our regions, Labour’s Employment, Skills and Training spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

“Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics play a crucial role in ensuring our workforce has the skills and training to meet the needs of the labour market and drive innovation in New Zealand. They also act as economic ‘anchors’ of the regions they serve.

“However, the National Government has cut an estimated $60 million funding to regional polytechnics since 2010. Along with an overemphasis on university degree qualifications, vocational and trade training is not getting the support it deserves as a core part of growing the economy.

“To restore the capability of and confidence in our Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, Labour will make significant investment in Polytechnics and industry training.

“We will establish Centres of Vocational Excellence based at these institutions to support collaboration with industry, businesses and the local community. They will ensure education and training in core areas is high quality, innovative and relevant.

“Priority will be given to regional institutions which have existing expertise in an industry or sector, or to regions which already have a significant industry footprint. We will also be seeking a commitment to working with Industry Training Organisations, businesses and other economic agencies.

“Labour will commit $40 million over four years with the aim of having ten centres set up by the end of our first term. The final criteria and process for deciding the location and focus of these centres will be agreed in consultation with institutions and industry training organisations.

“A skilled and adaptable workforce is a vital part of the Economic Upgrade that Labour will deliver to New Zealand. These Centres of Vocational Excellence will play an important part in giving the vocational training sector the status it deserves and fostering the collaboration we need to lift our productivity and create better jobs and higher wages,” Grant Robertson says.

“Revelations about big spending and staffing problems at the Ministry of Pacific Islands Affairs are not a good look for a body charged with lifting social and economic outcomes for Pacific families.

“Pacific families are being hit with high unemployment, low incomes and unaffordable housing. Now the only ministry charged with advocating for better lives for our people is embroiled in internal staffing issues.

“The Minister needs to front up and explain how his ‘leadership’ has resulted in the unfolding shambles at the ministry.

“The bulk of the extra money Mr Lotu-IIga crowed about the Ministry getting in this year’s Budget appears to have been for redundancies.

“It is ludicrous that during a time of high unemployment for Pacific communities, this Minister is creating more joblessness.

“He needs to explain why key advisors in Wellington and Auckland have left the Ministry.

“The Minister clearly has no vision for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs,” Su’a William Sio says.

John Banks’ conviction for filing a false election return underlines a sorry chapter in our political history, says Labour Leader David Cunliffe.

“This is a sad but just end to a long career political career.

“The court process has served to protect the integrity of our democracy and shield it from perceptions of improper influence.

“Mr Banks should accept his sentence and move on.

“His conviction is also a reminder of the dodgy deal that kept him in Parliament over the last three years – and of the heavy-handed pursuit of the media by the police in its wake.

“John Key refused for months to read the police report. In doing so he failed to uphold the integrity of the electoral system. The court has now done so.

“Unfortunately, as we have seen just this week, the National Party has learned nothing from this distortion of the MMP system.

“National has been kept in power by a self-evident manipulation of our democratic process — relying on discredited and irrelevant support parties such as ACT and United Future which owe their place in Parliament to cups of tea and a nod and a wink.

“This week John Key again told the public who to vote for in Epsom and Ohariu in an attempt to resuscitate two spent political forces.

“New Zealanders do not like the creeping arrogance which has become evident in National’s approach to government — whether in gaming MMP, or in failing to hold its MPs accountable to the standards expected of them.

“Labour will remove coat-tailing to make the electoral system fairer and more transparent.

“We will be campaigning for a fairer, better society for all New Zealanders, and that must begin at the top.

“Mr Banks has been found guilty and been punished for his transgressions. The voters should send a strong signal to John Key and the National Party for their part in this sorry fiasco,” David Cunliffe said.

Labour will vigorously oppose short term solutions to plug Christchurch City Council’s funding shortfall – including asset sales – which leave the city worse off financially and strategically in the long term, Labour’s Canterbury Recovery spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

Responding to a report into the Christchurch City Council’s finances which raised a sell-off of some of the city’s assets as a possibility, Ruth Dyson said Labour MPs were committed to working towards real long term solutions for the city.

“The Cameron Partners’ report offers some new information into the financial challenges Christchurch is facing and provides a number of options to tackle them.

“We now need to work together to discuss options for securing the long term financial stability of the Council. Consideration must be given to the priorities of residents, the timing of any commitments and sources of Council income.

“Labour MPs are committed to contributing to solutions which leave our city as a healthy and welcoming place where people want to live and visit. We know that a range of solutions will be on the table and more may come out of community discussions,” Ruth Dyson says.

Moves by the Government to increase the number of training placements for nursing graduates will be seen for what they are – a cynical election ploy, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

“Health Minister Tony Ryall has just announced the Government will fund up to 200 additional training places for nurse graduates next year.

“This comes less than a week after the New Zealand Nurses Organisation launched a petition calling for extra funding for graduates and follows reports that 412 new graduates – more than half the 645 applicants in the latest ACE round – have been unable to find work.

“One nurse who contacted me said that of 40-plus students in her class, just one had received a job offer.

“This problem isn’t new. It has been going on for years, yet it is only now – weeks out from the election – that Mr Ryall has deigned to come up with some sort of solution, however half-baked and short term.

“Health Workforce New Zealand raised the issues around nursing shortages and the loss of many new graduates after they failed to get jobs at least three years ago.

“While today’s announcement is better late than never, it doesn’t go far enough.

“We also need to stem the flow of foreign nurses by removing some categories from Immigration New Zealand’s long term skill shortage list, which will ensure ongoing employment for our new graduates,” Annette King said.

Labour is appalled the Māori Party has refused to allow a final reading of legislation to abolish slavery conditions on foreign charter fishing vessels in New Zealand waters before the end of the Parliamentary term, Labour’s Fisheries spokesperson Damien O’Connor says.

“The Fisheries (Foreign Charter Vessels and other Matters) Amendment Bill could have passed tomorrow if the Māori Party had given leave.

“This Bill will result in foreign fishing vessels having to meet New Zealand minimum standards and market wage rates.

“However because of the Māori Party this legislation may not pass, enabling shocking conditions on foreign charter fishing vessels to continue.

“This is despite the Bill having the support of the majority of Parliament.

“Leave wouldn’t have to be sought on the final day of Parliament if Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy hadn’t dragged his feet for months.

“Labour backs moves to bring all foreign charter vessels within New Zealand law. But we want to see more New Zealand crews aboard foreign fishing ships and for fishing to become an attractive career option for Kiwi workers.

“For this to happen we need trained crews ready to fill demand and for proper wages to be paid on all New Zealand fishing vessels.

“The fishing sector is frustrated with the lack of progress on this Bill. Labour shares those frustrations,” Damien O’Connor says.

The Israeli response in Gaza is disproportionate and with the firing of tanks and mortars into civilian areas, increasingly indiscriminate, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer.

“Eight children were killed in Gaza last night, they were playing in an area they believed to be safe.

“Israel says that no normal state would tolerate rockets being fired into their civilian areas. They are right, Hamas rockets are also indiscriminate.

“But it is also not normal for 1.6 million Palestinians to be blockaded into a narrow strip of land, a situation that aptly fits its description as the largest prison camp in the world.

“Around 1,100 Gazans have now been killed, the overwhelming majority of them civilians. Fifty Israelis have been killed, three civilians and the remainder, soldiers.

“There needs to be an immediate ceasefire, without conditions, to stop further unnecessary deaths. Both sides, without exception, need to stick to it. Only then can an ongoing settlement of the situation be arranged.

“Pressure needs to be brought to bear by the US, UN, European Union and Arab States on both sides to stop.

“That settlement must address the potential for future violence, but also the long term issues of the Gaza Strip.

“Gaza has 40% unemployment, a collapsed economy, food shortages and an infrequent electricity supply that sees untreated sewage piped into the sea.

“These conditions will inevitably sow the seeds for further conflict if they’re not resolved. Young people need hope, not a future of where fighting is considered normal,” says David Shearer.

A Labour government will raise the minimum wage $2 an hour to $16.25 and restore work rights to ensure the benefits of economic growth are shared fairly by all New Zealanders, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“That will put around $4000 a year into the pockets of hard working Kiwi wage earners.

“New Zealand’s productivity gains of 50 per cent over the last 20 years have not led to corresponding increases in real wages.

“Forty-six per cent of Kiwi wage earners didn’t receive a pay rise last year despite the economy growing by around 3 per cent. Wage earners help create economic wealth; it is only fair they share the benefits.

“It is a travesty that 40 per cent of children growing up in poverty are living in working households.

“Labour has already announced its Economic Upgrade programme to create a high-skill high-wage New Zealand and reduce employment to 4 per cent by the end of our first term.

“Today we are committing to a ‘100 days’ programme to make positive changes to the lives of working New Zealanders.

“These include:

Immediately increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour, with a further increase to $16.25 an hour in April 2015.

Aiming to raise the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage over two terms as conditions permit.

Ensuring all core public service workers are paid at least the Living Wage, and extending that as fiscal conditions allow.

Abolishing the Government’s 90 day dismissal law.

Reviewing health and safety laws and ensuring Worksafe New Zealand is adequately resourced.

“We will also charge a Commission of Inquiry with investigating wage setting and other workplace practices with a view to developing labour market regulation that makes it easier to negotiate fair pay and conditions, and encourages productive workplace relationships.

“Labour will boost wages and bring down unemployment so all Kiwis can afford a better life,” David Cunliffe said.

It will be cold comfort to teachers and school staff still struggling with Novopay that the National Government has finally stepped in to rescue the failed payroll system two years after it was introduced, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“How on earth did the Education Minister sign off on a system that was so deficient? And why did it so long for the minister who took over responsibility, Steven Joyce, to finally decide to take action?

“Teachers and school staff have waited long enough for Novopay to be fixed. It has taken up their valuable teaching time, as well as hours and hours of school administration. Students and parents have also paid the price for this ongoing uncertainty.

“Taxpayers are now footing a multimillion dollar bill because of Hekia Parata’s incompetence. By last month, the Government had already spent $43 million trying to fix this lemon. Now Talent2 is dropping a hot potato in the taxpayer’s lap. Goodness knows how much more will be shovelled down this black hole before the problems are finally fixed.

“The Government taking over Novopay changes nothing. If Talent2 couldn’t make the system work, what confidence can teachers and school staff have that the Government will be able to succeed where they failed?

“How many pairs of hands have been over this? Hekia Parata, Bill English, Craig Foss and even the Government’s Mr Fix-It couldn’t sort it out.

“Novopay has been a shambles from start to finish,” Chris Hipkins says.

National’s housing policy is in disarray with building consents in Auckland falling two months in a row, says Labour’s housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“Statistics New Zealand’s latest building consent figures show consents in Auckland are down for the second month in a row with 553 in June which is down from 611 in May, and 697 in April.

“This means in the first nine months of the Government’s housing accord just 5,278 houses have been consented. At this rate they will finish 2000 short of their target of 9000 houses consented in the first year of the accord.

“Auckland Council estimated the Government would consent 9,000 homes in 2014 anyway before most of the special housing areas were announced.

“This is an unambitious target but the Government can’t even meet that. Auckland needs 13,000 homes per year to meet demand and make up for the shortfall in consents under this Government.

“In spite of Housing Minister Nick Smith’s frantic efforts to make it look like he is doing something about the housing crisis, the Auckland Housing Accord is pretty much all he has got. And 14 months after he announced it, he hasn’t built a single new house in the Special Housing Areas.

“These consent figures demonstrate yet again the ongoing failure of the Government’s attempts to fix a broken housing market by doing nothing more than tweaking the planning rules.

“Labour has a positive vision for housing which will see us build 100,000 affordable homes, put first home buyers ahead of speculators with a Capital Gains Tax and restrictions on non-resident buyers, and a National Policy Statement under the RMA that will give Councils strong direction to increase the supply of new housing,” says Phil Twyford.

Gerry Brownlee has shown how badly he is managing the rebuild by getting his figures wrong on how many houses are needed in Christchurch, Labour’s EQC spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove says.

“Gerry Brownlee today tried to poor cold water on the figures from Phil Twyford and myself that showed CERA is thousands of homes behind in the rebuild. But he got it horribly wrong and forgot about thousands of families needing temporary housing

“His statement claims just 1500 new homes are needed in Christchurch. But he ignored the 6000 homes needed in Christchurch alone to resolve earthquake relocation and temporary housing demand.

“If Mr Brownlee thinks Christchurch only needs 1500 houses when thousands were destroyed by the earthquakes he is out of touch,” says Clayton Cosgrove.

Headline: Out of control costs raise questions about National Science Challenges

Amid strong criticism of the value of the National Science Challenges from some of the country’s senior scientists, new figures show administrative costs are skyrocketing while the level of investment in actual science remains a mystery, says Labour’s Innovation, Research and Development spokesperson Megan Woods.

“Figures released to Labour show that since the National Science Challenges were announced, $3m has been spent by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment administering them, including $1.2 promoting them, while some participating government entities have spent over $200,000 each just to prepare proposals.”

“It’s not surprising to hear the country’s best scientists warning the government’s new flagship funding programme for science could be a total disaster when so much has already been spent on back room administration.

“We’re looking at administrative costs scattered across the science and research sector which our calculations put at well over $4m already.

“We still have to ascertain how much has been spent on actual research compared to administrative costs, something the Minister must address.

“Added to this is a real anxiety within the science community about what the costs of the bureaucracy of the Challenges will be once they are finally started. They are rightly worried about the ongoing complicated and heavy management and governance of the Challenges will be. They are looking at the Government’s plans and seeing expensive duplication.

“This is another pet project from Steven Joyce that has left people with more questions than answers.

“I’ve been asking the same questions to the Minister as many others; what are these Challenges adding to science in New Zealand and how much of the cash is actually going to make it into the lab once all the bureaucratic costs are siphoned off?”

Headline: Low build numbers and faulty repairs: what has Brownlee been doing?

Despite being a man in a hurry new figures show just 2160 new homes, thousands fewer than needed, have been built under Gerry Brownlee in the last two years, say Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford and EQC spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.

“Information obtained from Christchurch City Council shows just 2160 Code Compliance Certificates were issued in the two years to June 2014, while CERA says Canterbury 25,000 are needed,” says Phil Twyford.

“This shows the residential rebuild has been painfully slow. With so few houses being built it is easy to see why rents and house prices continue to go through the roof.

“The Government likes to crow about projected consent figures, but code compliance certificates for new dwellings are a much better indicator as they are issued after building work is completed.

EQC spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove said the figures were shocking coming on top of news reports of faulty earthquake repairs.

“Now we have got lawyers in Christchurch warning of shoddy repair jobs, and saying it could be as big as the leaky buildings crisis.

“One insurance lawyer Duncan Webb has been reported saying there was no auditing process so substandard repairs were being passed off as complete.

“Legal action against insurers and building companies is mounting with High Court’s so-called earthquake list showing 222 cases are active of a total of 327 filed.

“When John Key tried to defend Gerry Brownlee’s latest troubles he said his minister ‘got a lot of things right’. He got it wrong with the rebuild – he should have put in quality control measures in the beginning to get it right first time,” said Clayton Cosgrove.

CERA has spent $1.8 million on 7286 flights from Christchurch to Wellington in three years – a huge waste of money as Cantabrians still wait for solutions, Labour’s EQC spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove says.

“Of course CERA officials do need to travel to Wellington but 200 flights on average a month is an excessive airlines bill for an organisation based entirely in one region.

“Given CERA is in its fourth year surely the smartest thing Gerry Brownlee could have done is move the necessary officials permanently to Christchurch or employed some of the many skilled Cantabrians to do these jobs rather than flying bureaucrats with their clipboards around the country using up taxpayer dollars. The question is why didn’t he do this?

“CERA is a law unto its own thanks to the attitude of a minister with wartime powers. Gerry Brownlee has already demonstrated his contempt for airline security this week, it appears he also has contempt for the cost of airline bills to the taxpayer,” says Clayton Cosgrove.

Nick Smith has yet again completely overstepped the mark as a minister – this time with a threat to muzzle Fish and Game if they don’t keep in line with Government’s views, says Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson.

“Nick Smith doesn’t understand boundaries. Time and time again throughout his career he has gone too far. He is a shining example of the arrogance and conflicts of interest of Team Key’s Wall of Shame.

“You would have thought he would have learned from the Bronwyn Pullar ACC debacle where he intervened in his own department to lobby for a friend. Instead as soon as he returned as a minister he was gagging his Conservation Department’s concerns over the Ruataniwha Dam.

“He has now threatened to change the mandate of Fish and Game because of its advocacy for clean rivers. This is straight out intimidation and he should offer his resignation. Unlike Gerry Brownlee he should be serious about it,” says Ruth Dyson.

The Board of Inquiry decision on the Puhoi-Warkworth motorway gives the green light to a project that doesn’t stack up, says Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“Labour would spend $320 million immediately to fix the accident black spots, put in a bypass at Warkworth and ease the congestion pinch points.

“We would also fix up the local roads and bridges across the Far North that National has neglected and run down for the past six years.

“The Government’s $760 million plan is a duplicate gold-plated toll road that would only cut three minutes off the travelling time between Puhoi and Warkworth, on a road that outside of the summer holidays carries less traffic than many suburban arterials.

“The Board of Inquiry’s decision, under the Resource Management Act, was mostly a consideration of the motorway’s environmental effects.

“This draft decision by the Board of Inquiry does not mean the Puhoi-Warkworth motorway project is a good idea. The report did not even consider alternative solutions. It just took the Government’s word that this is the best option, even though no economic business case was presented.

“This National Government has a track record of spending bucket loads of cash on low-value motorway projects. National hand-picked their so-called Roads of National Significance back in 2008 without having done the economic analysis and since then have spent more than a billion dollars a year on them.”

Former Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman must come clean about when he was told the FBI was investigating Kim Dotcom, Labour’s Associate Security and Intelligence spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

“Jonathan Coleman has previously said ministers were not aware of the American authority’s investigation into Kim Dotcom when he was granted residency.

“However, Immigration NZ chief Nigel Bickle today said he briefed Jonathan Coleman the day before Kim Dotcom’s residency was granted.

“Jonathan Coleman’s fingers are all over this. It is time the public were given a truthful account of what Government ministers knew and when.

“From the very start, New Zealanders have been kept in the dark about the case against Kim Dotcom. It is increasingly apparent the whole story is yet to be told.

“The public has already been asked to swallow claims by John Key that he didn’t know about Kim Dotcom until the day before he was raided by Police, despite him living in the Prime Minister’s electorate and sponsoring a massive fireworks display on Auckland harbour to celebrate his residency.

“New Zealanders deserve better from the Government than half truths, cover ups and being misled. Unfortunately that has now become the pattern of this National Government.

“John Key has repeatedly said he will hold his ministers to high standards. However, that promise is beginning to ring hollow on a daily basis,” Grant Robertson says.

News that up to 114 jobs could be lost from Fonterra’s Canpac plant in Hamilton reinforces the need for a government plan to build resilient regional economies, Labour’s MP for Hauraki-Waikato Nanaia Mahuta says.

“The Canpac site has effectively responded to the demand for value-added milk products. This is a role we hope the Hamilton site can retain through proposals to develop paediatrician milk powder.

“The proposed job losses will be upsetting to workers and we hope negotiations with Fonterra will result in new jobs offers for the majority of them.

“These workers need certainty and, just as Fonterra has to readjust its business due to a decline in demand for its products, the company needs to initiate a plan for the future of the Canpac plant.

“Labour’s Regional Growth Plans announced yesterday will help places like the Waikato cope with changing economic conditions. Our new $200 million Regional Development Fund will boost infrastructure and industry projects to help buffer local ebbs while creating sustainable jobs.

“The future of a productive economy is one that looks to greater collaboration, resilience and investment to increase productivity and secure job opportunity.

“New Zealand needs a government that gets behind the regions. Labour’s regional development policy will help create an economic step-change for our regions,” Nanaia Mahuta says.

]]>Kiwis to get the final vote on amalgamationhttps://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/07/25/kiwis-to-get-the-final-vote-on-amalgamation/
Thu, 24 Jul 2014 23:16:00 +0000http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/07/25/kiwis-to-get-the-final-vote-on-amalgamation/MIL OSI – Source: Labour Party –

Headline: Kiwis to get the final vote on amalgamation

New Zealanders will get the right to have a final say on any proposed local body amalgamations, says Labour’s local government spokesperson Su’a William Sio releasing Labour’s Local Government policy today.

“While Labour does not oppose amalgamations as such, we do not adhere to the ‘one size fits all’ approach.

“Our plan for a final say referendum on amalgamation is to restore democracy to local government and implement a real partnership with central government. The Government does not have a coherent strategy for local government reform.

“Labour will also address the size of local authority wards including a councillor to voter ratio. We will also restore the right of Kiwi communities to be fully consulted before services are contracted out or privatised.

“We are also committed to restoring the four well-beings of Local Government that were removed by National. They will allow New Zealanders to participate in local government and at last have a real say.

“Labour’s vision for local government is that it will not only be accountable to local communities but also affordable for its residents and ratepayers.”

A new report makes it clear for the urgent need to protect Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins while arguing it is clear that there is no need for further research, says Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson.

“Labour backs the public call for protection. This report by Economists at Large shows that the overwhelming majority of the public understands that as well, and are prepared to put both their vote and their tax dollar behind better protection.

“We have a big responsibility as the guardians of both Maui’s and Hector’s dolphins. So far the government has chosen to be timid in its measures. The international scientific committee has said – for three years in a row – that the protections from the National government are inadequate.

“Labour also believes that it is not credible for us as a nation of exporters to promote ourselves as ‘Clean and Green – 100% Pure’, while we continue to have fishing practices that kill these dolphins. But Labour supports our fishing industry and believe that it is a sound investment for government to support the transition of the existing fishing industry to move to sustainable fishing practices.

“This could be a total win-win. We could save the dolphin species and have a sustainable fishing industry that would have a great new marketing tool. This marketing tool – sustainable fishing – will be a huge advantage in promoting our fish products to an increasingly discerning overseas market.

“At the moment we are in a position of being vulnerable to an international fishing boycott because our fishing practices are killing both dolphins and seabirds.

“We have a positive option for the future of both the dolphins and our fishing industry.”

Parents can have little confidence in the Government’s National Standards after an Auckland school was told to manipulate its data so it added up, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.

“Valley School in Pukekohe was advised in an email from the Ministry of Education to arbitrarily adjust student results from ‘below standard’ to ‘above standard’ to make their data add up.

“How can National Standards provide an accurate basis for measuring student achievement when the Ministry of Education is unilaterally scaling assessment results to produce the outcome it wants?

“Parents will question whether the data in any way reflects student achievement when the principal told to manipulate his school’s data has stated: ‘I feel sorry for all parents and communities who look at 2013 National Standards data and make assumptions about school performance based on manipulated data. And I am appalled at the thought that schools will be judged and ranked on such data’.

“The National Government seems intent on ensuring teachers spend increasingly more time filling in forms to comply with reporting requirements and less time actually teaching.

“There are also questions around whether National Standards are improving student achievement when an Education Ministry survey released last September found the achievements of about four out of every 10 students had been incorrectly measured.

“On top of this, only three out of every 20 teachers believe that National Standards are robust, and fewer than two out of every five believe they enable them to make reliable judgments of student performance.

“The survey found that 60 per cent of teachers and 70 per cent of principals believe National Standards have created more work for little gain. It also found half of all teachers say National Standards have narrowed the curriculum they teach.

“Surely these findings must make it obvious to Education Minister Hekia Parata that it is time to dump National Standards,” Chris Hipkins says.

News that up to 114 jobs could be lost from Fonterra’s Canpac plant in Hamilton reinforces the need for a government plan to build resilient regional economies, Labour’s MP for Hauraki-Waikato Nanaia Mahuta says.

“The Canpac site has effectively responded to the demand for value-added milk products. This is a role we hope the Hamilton site can retain through proposals to develop paediatrician milk powder.

“The proposed job losses will be upsetting to workers and we hope negotiations with Fonterra will result in new jobs offers for the majority of them.

“These workers need certainty and, just as Fonterra has to readjust its business due to a decline in demand for its products, the company needs to initiate a plan for the future of the Canpac plant.

“Labour’s Regional Growth Plans announced yesterday will help places like the Waikato cope with changing economic conditions. Our new $200 million Regional Development Fund will boost infrastructure and industry projects to help buffer local ebbs while creating sustainable jobs.

“The future of a productive economy is one that looks to greater collaboration, resilience and investment to increase productivity and secure job opportunity.

“New Zealand needs a government that gets behind the regions. Labour’s regional development policy will help create an economic step-change for our regions,” Nanaia Mahuta says.

The Auditor-General’s Office could not have been more damning about the 18 months spent on the Central Agency Shared Services (CASS) project at the Finance and Expenditure Committee this morning, says Maryan Street, Labour’s State Services spokesperson.

“This project was to set up shared services across three important, central departments, namely the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), Treasury and the State Services Commission (SSC). Eighteen months later, the Auditor-General’s Office discovered the following:

Not enough definition and planning

Getting to the start date was more important than getting it right

Weaknesses in governance and management

The original consultant employed to be the Establishment Director left midway through the change process for some unknown reason

Set up elements were not done well

There were incomplete measures for monitoring and reporting on progress .

“In fact, the process could not have been more poorly handled,” said Maryan Street.

“This smacks of incompetent Ministers having an idea which may well be worthwhile, but no idea about how it should be executed. Never mind the process or the results, just get to the start date.”

“The cost of this debacle has been the loss of good, knowledgeable staff who have left because of a lack of consultation, good governance and planning. The Prime Minister, the Finance Minister and the State Services Minister are all responsible for this. The only way they can rescue this project is to ensure that all the Auditor-General’s recommendations are followed to the letter,” said Maryan Street.

The potential loss of up to 114 jobs from Fonterra’s Canpac plant in Hamilton is a massive blow to the Waikato region which has already lost hundreds of jobs, Labour says.

Labour’s Social Development spokesperson and Hamilton-based list MP Sue Moroney says the job losses will hit families hard and take money out of the local community.

“Most of these workers will have children to feed and rent or mortgages to pay. These families will now struggle to make ends meet after losing what is likely to be their primary income source.

“With the Waikato facing high unemployment at 7 per cent — above the national rate of 6 per cent — these workers will find it tough to get new jobs. Hundreds of Waikato workers have lost their jobs in the past few years including those from Solid Energy, Carter Holt Harvey and Goodman Fielder’s Huttons Division. A further 180 jobs will be lost at AgResearch at Ruakura next year.

Labour’s Economic Development spokesperson Grant Robertson says Fonterra is facing tough times with falling milk prices and increasing competition for dairy products in the international market.

“These job losses highlight the risk the current Government is taking in allowing our export base to narrow. New Zealand must not be so reliant on one industry.

“Exporters are also hurting because of the Government’s hands off approach to curbing the high dollar. Questions must be asked about whether these jobs are being lost because our overvalued dollar is squeezing out manufacturing in New Zealand.

“New Zealand needs a government that gets behind the regions. Our Regional Growth Plans announced yesterday, including a new $200 million Regional Development Fund, will boost infrastructure and industry projects to create an economic step-change for our regions,” Grant Robertson says.

The decision to reject the proposed flyover at the Basin Reserve must be taken as an opportunity to properly fund Wellington’s transport future and must not be used as an excuse to take resources away from the capital, Wellington Labour MPs Grant Robertson and Annette King say.

“The rejection of the flyover means that alternative ideas for improving traffic flow in Wellington can have a fair hearing,” says Grant Robertson.

“The Board of Inquiry noted that since 2001 there have been 73 different options proposed for this area. There is no shortage of ideas, but the Board is highly critical of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for not adequately considering alternatives. That now has to change.

Annette King says money allocated for Wellington must not be taken away following this decision. “Wellington deserves its fair share of transport funding. There are proposals on the table that would see improvements to traffic flow around the Basin and other initiatives such as the duplication of the Mount Victoria tunnel that could be implemented quickly.

Grant Robertson says Labour is committed to ensuring that there is fair funding for Wellington’s transport. “We will be very clear with NZTA that they need to develop a clear alternative plan that improves traffic flow, supports public transport and protects the heritage and amenity value of the area.

“The Board of Inquiry has found quite clearly that the flyover simply did not deliver the benefits it promised, while at the same time seriously compromising the environment and heritage of our city,” Grant Robertson says.

“The Board of Inquiry has done a thorough job and has highlighted some serious shortcomings in the NZTA proposal,” Annette King says. “Now is not the time to throw our collective hands in the air in despair. It is an opportunity to get this project right for decades to come. Labour is committed to doing just that,” she says.

John Key is out of touch with regional New Zealand if he believes tinkering with council regulations will restore opportunities to small towns, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“While the regions are crying out for sustainable growth and job opportunities, National today announced a taskforce to fiddle around with the rules.

“Conversely, Labour has announced a $200 million initiative to co-develop Regional Growth Plans.

“Labour understands the regions are the lifeblood of New Zealand’s economy and Local Government New Zealand today welcomes our ‘practical measures to create change’.

“This contestable funding is necessary because National’s short-sighted obsession with a building a handful of roads has starved the regions of much needed investment.

“Nowhere is this illustrated better than with the Government’s plan to demolish the newly strengthened one-lane Motu Bridge between Gisborne and Opotiki to make room for a new road.

“John Key’s desperate attempt to claim Labour will impose costs on the regions shows he doesn’t understand our policy. Labour’s Regional Growth Plans will support industries such as aquaculture and horticulture.

“Regional New Zealand will be better off under a Labour Government. Only Labour has a strategic, long-term plan to breathe life back into our regions,” David Cunliffe says.

The rejection of the proposed Basin Reserve flyover by a Board of Inquiry is a victory for sustainable transport in Wellington and paves the way for other alternatives to be given a fair hearing, Wellington Labour MPs Grant Robertson and Annette King say.

“The Flyover was the wrong solution for improving transport in Wellington. The proposal exaggerated the benefits of the flyover and failed to recognise the damage it would do to an historic part of the city.

“Other alternatives for improving traffic flow and supporting public transport were never given a fair hearing by the Transport Agency.

Annette King said Labour congratulated those who worked hard to oppose this project, including the local Mount Victoria community, the Save The Basin campaign and the Architecture Centre.

“Labour MPs have always opposed the flyover and we are delighted that the Board of Inquiry has acknowledged the concerns of the communities we represent.

“We now need to focus on ensuring there is a sustainable transport plan for Wellington,” Annette King says.

“Labour wants to see alternatives for the Basin Reserve considered as part of a wider plan that sees congestion reduction measures alongside better public transport,” Grant Robertson says.

Meat companies that supply supermarkets and sell New Zealand lamb as a loss leader in the United Kingdom should lose their access to this valuable quota market, said Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor.

“Our reputation as a Lamb producer must be hurt by today’s reports that Welsh farmers are protesting outside British supermarkets where New Zealand lamb is being sold at what those farmers claim are artificially low prices. Those prices are in turn reducing the price of British lamb at the height of the northern hemisphere season.

“Such action by supermarkets destroys the value and the image of New Zealand lamb as a premium product grown and processed to the highest international standards of food production.

“Any loss leader action undermines New Zealand’s brand. New Zealand farmers will be horrified to think their quality lamb products are being misused by UK supermarket chains. The value of their lamb is being missed as well as that of Welsh farmers.

“I have sympathy for New Zealand and Welsh farmers, all who should receive more for their lamb rather than see their product sold for a song by UK supermarket chains battling for market share,” Damien O’Connor said.

The next Labour Government will co-develop Regional Growth Plans for every region of New Zealand and will invest at least $200 million in a fund to create breakthrough opportunities for jobs and sustainable growth, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“The regions are the lifeblood of New Zealand and Labour understands their vital importance to growing New Zealand’s economy.

“Many regions have been hollowed out under National with young people leaving for the cities and overseas. Things have become so bad there is speculation of abandoning communities or ‘red-zoning’ regions.

“Labour will not let that happen. Labour will stand alongside regions and work with them to fulfil their ambitions and keep their young people at home.

“We will work with local government, communities and businesses to develop tailored Regional Growth Plans that identify strengths and opportunities for each region, boost growth and create jobs.

“Labour will support the plans with a new $200 million Regional Development Fund that will co-invest in infrastructure and industry projects which would create an economic step-change for our regions.

“The sort of projects that could be considered include the Opotiki Harbour Development, Marsden Point rail line and the Gisborne-Napier Rail Link.

“The regions will be a core part of our wider Economic Upgrade that is built on investment, innovation and industry. Our Forestry, Manufacturing and ICT Upgrades will create jobs in regions that need them most.

“Under National, the regions have been neglected. The next Labour Government will be a partner and work alongside them,” David Cunliffe says.

Early in my time as an MP I went for a long walk on a windswept Kare Kare beach with Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey. We talked for about four hours of our hopes and dreams for the future.

I was enthused by his vision of transforming a part of Auckland wrongly known for

poverty, crime and drag racing, into an Eco City where celebrating nature, diversity and

the arts would go hand in hand with positive economic development in value added

industries like marine construction and film-making.

Together with a broad range of community stakeholders, we got to work.

We protected the unique bush environment of the Ranges from “death by a thousand cuts” and created the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area.

Waitakere boosted cultural activities like the Moon Festival, and built community capital through a rich network of community organisations.

And we pioneered and co-funded a comprehensive urban renewal plan for New Lynn that has become a model for integrated transport and modern housing solutions.

To get that across the line I had to face down the short sighted views of Treasury officials who could not see the broader economic and social benefits of that central-local government partnership.

We won, investment flowed, new rail lines and a first rate transport interchange were built, major housing and commercial developments followed, and New Lynn has been transformed into one of the coolest, most diverse, up and coming urban villages in Auckland.

None of that happened by accident.

It required a broad vision for local government across all four of its well-beings: economic, social, environmental and cultural.

It required real guts to reach into the future and do whatever it took to make it happen.

And it required real investment – roughly evenly split across Central and Local Government, and with private sector co-investment – of around $300 million dollars to get it rocking.

That investment in new partnership will pay handsome dividends for generations to come.

Vision

You see, I believe New Zealand should be the fairest, most decent society in the world.

We’re a small nation with a lot of resources. We have a culture of working hard and looking after each other. A fair go for everyone, and putting people first.

We’re a nation founded on the idea that everyone, no matter where they came from, poor or rich, city or country, older or younger, new New Zealander or Kiwi of many generations, that each and every one of us would have the opportunities to get ahead and make the most of our lives.

My vision for New Zealand is that we regain that sense of community.

Working together

And that we do this work together, government, local government, community, businesses, to achieve real gains as a nation. Gains that are shared fairly and used to ensure that our children and our grandchildren have the opportunities they need.

That’s because we know that the most effective decisions are made when government works with people, not just for them.

I’ve seen first-hand the contribution that community development can make in building a resilient community.

The problem

But in the last few years I’ve also seen the steady erosion of opportunity and wealth in much of New Zealand. In region after region I’ve visited towns where major employers are downsizing or closing, a boat-builder in Northland, a timber mill in Rotorua, another two in South Otago, a heavy engineering firm in Taranaki, another in Dunedin…

And this is self-perpetuating – when young and talented New Zealanders leave to pursue opportunities that are no longer available in their own regions, they take with them the skills and energy needed to build for the next generation.

It’s happening because right now we’ve got a situation where the regions have been neglected. More and more central government is pushing councils and authorities away from the four well-beings and toward a “rates, rats, and rubbish” version of local government.

A version that leaves less and less space for local government and communities to guide their own futures, to do their very best by each other.

Increasingly, New Zealand’s economy is split between Canterbury, which is growing quickly buoyed by the rebuild, the main centres where there is moderate growth, and the regions, which whose economies are stagnant or going backwards.

In 2013, regional GDP per capita fell in a majority of the regions.

Regional centres are losing their manufacturers and, with them, the skilled, well-paying jobs that underpin the local economy.

The wood processing and manufacturing sector, for example, has lost 3,000 jobs since 2008.

The statistics show that the regions are suffering under the current government.

There are more jobless New Zealanders compared to December 2008 in every region of the country save Canterbury.

In 13 out of 16 regions, real median weekly income has fallen since 2008. The number of youth without jobs and not in education or training has risen in 14 regions under the current government.

It’s got to the point where the Royal Society is warning of red-zones and abandoning towns.

Labour does not accept that future.

How we fix it, and why

I want – Labour wants – for every New Zealander to have a decent education, to have a good well-paid job, raise a family, to have the opportunity to own a home, and to know that they live in a society that will give their kids that chance too.

Part of that needs to be about getting the right macroeconomic settings in place. And Labour’s economic upgrade policies are designed to do that.

Our monetary policy will drive savings and investment capital, and support our exporters by reducing the dollar.

Our industry economic upgrades back sectors such as manufacturing and wood processing to shift from volume to value with incentives to drive innovation and investment in plant and machinery.

However not all the solutions are to be found at the national level. If we are to build wealth and create good jobs we need regional solutions.

Working with, not just for

But we won’t intervene from on high. Labour’s approach to regional development will be about getting involved and working alongside communities. It is based on the certainty that not all the best ideas come from Wellington.

In our new networked world we can build on great ideas wherever they spring up. We can empower citizens and realise potential by getting alongside them and backing their ideas.

It’s about working with New Zealanders, not just working for them.

By contrast, the current government is very much about being hands-off in terms of the support it offers. But it is also top down in terms of decision making.

Labour knows that there are things central government can bring to the table. We’re in a better position than most to take a long and broad view of economic gains.

Central government isn’t, and shouldn’t be, bound by quarter by quarter returns – it should be focused on making investment decisions on long-term timescales and on broad economic impact.

Labour in Government will pursue a partnership with local governments that is genuine, enduring and meaningful. We will work with Local Government New Zealand and other stakeholders to achieve this through a more cooperative model.

We will begin by constituting regular forums between Cabinet and Local Government New Zealand to create a shared vision for a genuine and enduring partnership. We will also constitute regular forums between central and local government CEOs to sustain best practice and develop a cooperating model that delivers.

Labour will commit to entrenching the independent role, purpose and functions of Local Governments as partners in community development and nation-building in our Constitution Act and other legislations.

We will establish a clear set of agreed principles to govern the relationship between the two spheres of government. Agreements will outline expectations, legitimacy and a sustainable basis for negotiating shared vision, goals, and outcomes that delivers on a collective vision for New Zealand by developing and strengthening communities, districts, cities and our regions.

We’re not interested in being white knights riding into town from capitol city to tell you what to do.

What we are interested in is making sure that the economic potential in New Zealand’s regions is unlocked. That’s absolutely critical to making sure New Zealand’s economy prospers. It’s why I’ve taken the regional development portfolio in our party, and it’s why I’m announcing our regional development policy today.

Regional growth plans

Labour will work in partnership with each region to develop a Regional Growth Plan.

These plans will identify the opportunities and barriers to growth, as well as practical measures to create a step-change for each region’s economy.

These Regional Growth plans will not just be more strategy documents to gather dust on the shelf; Labour is going to back these plans by investing in infrastructure and by investing in our people.

We also understand that every region has its own strengths – unlike the current government we do not believe the one-size-fits-all answer for everyone is more dairy cows and more oil exploration.

Like I said, Labour is fundamentally about taking the long-view. We understand that the kinds of projects and infrastructure required to generate ongoing and sustainable wealth in the regions shouldn’t stand or fall on whether they can turn a quick buck or not.

Closing the equity gap

I don’t think there’s anyone in this room who doesn’t know of at least one project that would help grow their regions wealth, but that can’t get across the line because of a lack of available investment.

In my time as regional development spokesperson I’ve seen more than a few. They’re ideas like the Opotiki harbour development which would create nearly 300 jobs – in a town with twice the national rate of people on the benefit. And the tragic events of recent weeks indicate the importance of creating jobs in communities like that.

Or ideas like the Gisborne to Napier Rail line which could be crucial for the efficient processing of East Coast timber and providing a sustainable future – a back bone to the east coast.

Or rebuilding Dunedin’s heavy engineering, or accelerating its knowledge industries in the wake of years of the current government’s neglect.

Good ideas that will have community-wide economic benefits, but that face a basic equity gap – that simply can’t get the cornerstone investment they need.

Indeed it’s been happening for so long that many good ideas don’t even make it to a business case because they won’t get backing no matter how well they stack up.

If we want to grow the regions and unlock their economic potential. If we want to breathe life back into our neglected cities and towns, and ensure our kids can get a great education and a decent job in the communities they grew up in, then we need to put money into creating those opportunities.

The Regional Development Fund

That’s why I am announcing today an initial commitment of at least $200m over our first four years of government to a fund that will drive cornerstone growth projects in our regions.

Labour wants to see the Regional Development Fund enable step changes in regional economies by undertaking substantial investments in major pieces of infrastructure and manufacturing operations.

The Fund will operate within a rigorous strategic framework in partnership with local stakeholders.

Qualifying projects must make a real difference to implementing real regional growth plans, rather than being spread too thinly.

This will normally involve making better use of a regions resources and/or taking leading sectors to the next level.

Projects must have a measurable economic and social return, have a clear and documented rationale, and compliment rather that crowd out private sector investment (such as capturing spill-overs that are not otherwise available).

The Fund will be managed by an independent panel of experts in regional development drawn from local government, business, and iwi. It will use clear criteria for deciding which projects receive backing.

They will need some local funding, whether from business, local government, or iwi to go with the fund’s investment. The fund will only invest in projects that locals are also willing to put money into.

They will ultimately need to be able to stand on their own merit without further government backing, but we’ll be taking a long-view on that. Structural economic change doesn’t happen overnight.

We’re looking for projects that drive step-change for the local economy, in terms of boosting the value of the region’s economic output, not just its volume.

That might be through increasing the sophistication of manufacturing products and processes, or lowering costs by improving infrastructure and transport link.

Most of all, the projects we back will have to create secure well-paid jobs.

Our previously announced policies backing manufacturing and the wood sector with government procurement and tax breaks for investments, and the other elements in the package we’re announcing today such as our National Ports Strategy, will combine with our fund to ensure the regions thrive.

Conclusion

New Zealand is wonderful and diverse nation with so much potential. And so much of that potential is locked up in our regions.

But it has been neglected for too long. That’s no good for anyone – we will not have a strong and productive economy until we have strong and productive regions.

Today I’ve outlined Labour’s central regional development policy, but many of our other policies will also help bring prosperity to regional New Zealand.

Labour knows that if we are to put people first, if we are to ensure that all Kiwis can have a decent job, a warm, dry home, and be able to afford to raise a family – no matter where in New Zealand they live – then we need to get the economic settings right.

And that – by definition – must be a shared journey. We are all in this together.

Labour has a vision for a high value, sustainable future with better jobs and higher wages.

We will make a positive difference by upgrading our economy, by revitalising regional economies, so we can build the society New Zealand and New Zealanders deserve.

A Labour Government will ensure more of our children have the opportunity to learn te reo Māori by encouraging the learning and use of it in schools, Labour’s Māori Affairs spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta says.

Announcing Labour’s Te Reo Rangatira policy in Avondale today she said Labour wanted to both celebrate and safeguard the language and would do so providing opportunities to promote it as a living expression of indigenous identity.“Te reo Māori is a taonga.

“As a country New Zealand is a leader in indigenous language learning settings such as Te Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa and Wharekura. Students graduating from these institutions have a higher proportion of success and positive research gains can be attributed to mainstream school settings.

“Teachers proficient in te reo Māori and who are able to teach across the school curriculum have Labour’s full support.

“We recognise that hapū and iwi are increasingly committed to their own strategies and plans for te reo Māori. Labour will work in partnership with those aspirations to advance a fully endorsed Māori Language Strategy.

“Labour wants to see te reo Māori flourish and grow and that will require leadership in the home, at a local and central government level.

“To achieve our aspiration that te reo Māori becomes a working language for all New Zealanders, we will continue to make improvements across the public sector that will raise the capability and accessibility of te reo Māori.

“As an official language Labour recognises te reo Māori is an important doorway to a greater appreciation for heritage languages and the aspirations of a more multicultural society.”

“According to NZTA’s 10 year funding data every area of Northland has had a decrease in NZTA funding since 2008

“The latest storm, which has lasted 12 days, has clearly demonstrated our roads are not up to the pressure of extreme wet weather.

“We also need to have reliable alternative state highway options when SH1 is closed – as happened just south of Kawakawa.

“Neither the Ruapekapeka or Mangakahia Roads, which were used as temporary alternative routes, were able to withstand the extra pressure of heavy truck use, while three slips closed SH1 at Brynderwyn over the weekend, putting pressure on both the Paparoa detour and Waipu Cove detour routes.

“With Northland moving $1.8 billion worth of goods by road each year, it is vital that at least one second ‘main artery’ is formed. An upgraded Mangakahia Road would be the obvious choice.

“Greater use also needs to be made of coastal shipping and rail – upgrading the rail line between Auckland and Northland and the Marsden Point rail link would both improve access to the North.

“At the recent Northland Mayoral Forum it was decided that MPs, the various district councils and the Northland Regional Council would work out a transport plan to meet the future transport needs of all of Northland after the general election.

“The storm shows we can’t wait. We have to get that plan underway now.”

The innovative changes to KiwiSaver suggested by the Financial Services Council today will be seriously considered by Labour as part of plans to make KiwiSaver universal, Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker says.

“Universal KiwiSaver is an essential part of Labour’s plan to grow the wealth of New Zealand and create better jobs that pay higher wages.

“Currently young people are defaulted into conservative funds that invest mainly in bonds and cash rather than productive businesses. These also limit the amount young people can save for retirement.

“Today’s research from the Financial Services Council shows that ‘capital guarantees on KiwiSaver balances are a much better deal for KiwiSavers than defaulting them into conservative funds’.

“This is progress towards default schemes being able to reflect the stage in life of contributors. For example they would ensure those saving for a first home deposit have their contributions protected.

“Guarantees protect investments for young people if they wish to withdraw them to buy a house in bad economic times. People closer to retirement are more likely to be in a conservative fund so guarantees are less likely to apply to them.

“To make the most of universal KiwiSaver it is important to encourage investment in growing, productive businesses. The Financial Services Council’s suggestion is one that Labour will take into account when making KiwiSaver universal,” David Parker says.

Labour will ensure no regions in New Zealand are ‘red-zoned’ by tailoring Regional Growth Plans for each province as part of our Economic Upgrade, Labour’s Finance spokesperson and Deputy Leader David Parker says.

“The Royal Society of New Zealand’s Our Future report highlights the hollowing out of our regions under National, a trend that Labour has long warned of.

“That trend has become reality. A number of experts such as the NZIER, the Royal Society and Infometrics have warned that things have become so bad some communities may be abandoned.

New Zealanders have tremendous pride in their towns and regions. It is insulting to them and their forbears that they have been abandoned over the past 6 years by National’s management of the economy.

“Labour won’t abandon the regions – we will help them to succeed. Labour’s policies will support industry and boost growth to create jobs and opportunities in the provinces.

“We will work alongside businesses, communities and local government to tailor Regional Growth Plans to each province, as called for by experts such as Shamubeel Eaqub. Labour will announce further regional development plans next week.

“The regional decline highlights the real problems facing National’s economy which is far too reliant on dairy and the Christchurch rebuild. The wheels are falling off National’s economic management.

“Labour has long warned of the two-speed economy with the gaps between many New Zealand regions widening. Regional economies are stagnating and industries such as manufacturing and forestry are nowhere near reaching their potential.

“National has done little in six years to address these problems. Our exports narrowed and are now dropping. Labour will boost growth in the regions by ensuring investment goes into strong regional industries such as wood processing and manufacturing instead of more housing speculation in Auckland.

“The solution is Labour’s Economic Upgrade which will focus on investment, innovation and industry to grow and diversify our economy and create better jobs that pay higher wages.

“We will boost our investment pool through universal KiwiSaver, direct that money to productive businesses and industries through our capital gains tax, increase innovation through research and development tax credits and incentives to invest in sophisticated production equipment. Our policies provide targeted support to industries, like forestry, which support so many regions,” David Parker says.

The Minister of Local Government is telling porkies to its supporters on local government amalgamation, says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson Su’a William Sio.

National’s arrogance on amalgamation was all too clear when the Minister shut down Napier’s deputy mayor at a recent meeting when she questioned amalagamation. Unless Paula Bennett publicly declares that her government isn’t going to be pursuing amalgamation, people have no reason to believe her

“Let’s not forget that this Government changed the rules when they amended the Local Government Act in 2012 and mandated the Local Government Commission to effectively invite a free for all applications for regional amalgamations. The push for local government amalgamation came from National using the Auckland supercity model as the example. The 2012 amendment to the Local Government Act 2002 permitted any person, body or group to apply for local government amalgamation and made it more difficult for citizens to oppose these applications.

“Prior to this change the law guaranteed to all citizens the right to a say in a binding ballot over any proposed reorganisation or amalgamation of their local council, and this right was removed by National.

“These changes opened up the door to forced takeover of local governments and local democracy. It took away the right of citizens to have a say in the size and shape of their local council.

“Most local government practitioners would know that the one size fits all approach does not wash, nor does it make sense that big is better or big is cheaper. Look at the significant cost challenges that Auckland, under its supercity structure is having to face.

“It would be appropriate for the Minister to declare that all amalgamation proposals before the Local Government Commission should be put on hold until after the election.

“Labour has consistently said that while we are not opposed to amalgamation, the key for us is ensuring that local democracy and local participation are not lost. No region should be forced to amalgamate without its citizens being involved in making that decision.

“We already have significant examples where the regions are already working together in the provision of shared services without being forced to amalgamate,” said Su’a William Sio.

“It is of concern to many in the local government sector that the current process being advocated by the National government for forced amalgamation is ad-hoc, has no clear and coherent framework or strategy and risks the creation of a ‘dogs breakfast’ for local government in New Zealand and our regions.”

A report into the Police decision not to prosecute the Government Communications Security Bureau over its unlawful spying of 88 New Zealanders proves the need for a full review into our security agencies, Labour’s Associate Security and Intelligence spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

“The Independent Police Conduct Authority found the Police decision not to prosecute the GCSB for its illegal actions was justified. The problem with this ruling is that there is still no accountability for these unlawful activities against New Zealanders. The fault for this lies with John Key who is the minister responsible.

“However, IPCA chair Sir David Carruthers stressed it was ‘not the role of the Authority to investigate the activities of the GCSB’ or to ‘determine the accuracy of the legal advice provided to the Police by the Solicitor-General’.

“This is symptomatic of wider concerns about our security and intelligence agencies.

“The law around spying on New Zealanders was unclear and the Kitteridge report found the GCSB potentially acted outside of its powers. Today’s report found the GCSB had an ‘incorrect understanding’ of the law.

“The GCSB’s powers have now been expanded after the Government last year passed controversial new legislation opposed by many New Zealanders.

“There is no proper governance from the Prime Minister who is in charge of our spy agencies. He has been asleep at the wheel while unlawful actions took place around him. On top of this, the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee is toothless.

“It is unsurprising New Zealanders have little faith in our security and intelligence organisations. Labour has been calling for a full and independent review of our spy agencies for almost two years. This is the only way to restore public confidence,” Grant Robertson says.

The Government’s figures on the numbers of beneficiaries don’t add up, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Sue Moroney says.

“Paula Bennett keeps saying 1500 people are going off the benefit into work every week, yet today she announced just 16,000 fewer people were on benefits in the past year.

“That figure would be closer to 80,000 if 1500 people a week were getting jobs.

“On top of that her official figures show that in more than 4300 cases of people having their benefits cut it was because they failed their obligations to Work and Income – not because they had found paid work.

“By the time you factor in another 7000 people who stopped getting the benefit because they gave up looking for work and moved overseas and the increasing number of people not receiving the benefit because they qualify for superannuation, then maybe around 3000 people have found sustainable work over that year.

“The discrepancy in the figures points to a situation where people are going into very short-term insecure work and ending up back on the dole queue within weeks – or perhaps within the convenient 90 day ‘fire at will’ period that National put in place just before the welfare reforms.

“That’s a regime to keep people and their families poor, insecure and open to exploitation. New Zealand needs a plan that will genuinely lift children out of poverty by giving people decent, sustainable, well-paid work.

SkyCity should put aside its proposal to contract out its cleaning staff and not be lured by the prospect of washing their hands of these essential jobs and leaving them to the world of third party contracting, Labour’s Associate Labour spokesperson Darien Fenton says.

“One of the features of SkyCity employment practices over the years is that they have improved relationships with unions, collectively bargained and kept key staff employed in house and working as part of their team.

“SkyCity has always employed cleaners directly, and those workers have repaid that job security back in spades; with loyalty and service that goes back nearly 10 years.

“Contracting out these jobs sends a clear message that SkyCity now sees workers such as cleaners as peripheral to its business.

“Tell that to a cleaner who has to clean up the toilets, or a high roller who expects high standards throughout the casino.

“This proposal gives rise to questions about the Government-backed SkyCity Convention Centre and whether the jobs they claim will be created will be decent, full time and secure. Or will the lowest paid workers in the casino be further marginalised?

“The Government has already tried to weaken the protection of vulnerable workers like cleaners by watering down Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act that guarantees cleaners like those at SkyCity on-going employment.

“That’s on hold for now because the Government doesn’t have the numbers to pass it.

“Labour has a different vision for New Zealand workers – one which includes decent, well paid and secure work. SkyCity’s proposal does not fit within this,” Darien Fenton says.

Israel’s decision to continue with a ground offensive into Gaza can only result in more civilian deaths and push a ceasefire further beyond reach, Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer says.

“There is no such thing as a surgical strike with a tank. I have witnessed ground offensives in Gaza: it is inevitable that more civilians will die.

“The conflict was able to pause for five hours yesterday to enable humanitarian supplies to reach Palestinian civilians. That truce gave some hope that a longer ceasefire is possible.

“Both sides need to engage in the negotiations that are ongoing in Egypt. They should redouble efforts to reach a ceasefire. A negotiated settlement is what is urgently needed, not an escalation of the violence.

“More than 230 Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed since Israel launched Operation Protective Edge. The great majority have been civilians. Four young boys were killed while playing on a Gaza beach yesterday.

“The conflict that began ten days ago has so far resulted in 1960 Israeli airstrikes and destroyed 1300 Gazan homes. Hamas, that controls Gaza, has fired around 1400 rockets hitting areas deeper into Israel than earlier conflicts and seriously worrying the Israeli people.

“Israel’s actions are contrary to international humanitarian law, as are Hamas’ indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israeli civilian areas.

“Ultimately the confinement of Gaza’s 1.5 million people into a strip of land 35km by 8km is unsustainable. The Gazan economy has collapsed and hope for a better life has been eroded. A long term solution is needed,” David Shearer says.

A voucher system being used by emergency departments in Southern DHB – which pays patients to see a GP – is designed to skew figures to meet Government targets, Labour’s Associate Health spokesperson and Dunedin North MP David Clark says.

It follows reports of Counties Manukau police recoding some 700 burglaries, so they were not recorded in crime statistics

“Southern DHB patients who can afford to visit their doctor before presenting at the emergency department are promised a fast track through the ED process. Those who go straight to the ED because they can’t afford to visit their GP will now get sent off to their doctor with a voucher for a free visit. Effectively they’re paid to go away.

“I understand that they will only get a voucher on presentation of their community services card. There are plenty of people without a card who are financially stretched. Nurses are trained to assess health issues not financial status.

“This perverse approach is yet another band aid. The problem wouldn’t exist if health care was properly funded.

“Southern DHB currently ranks second-to-bottom against three of the government’s health targets (including ED waiting time), yet the DHB’s primary focus continues to be cost-cutting. Services have been cut to the bone. How does any of this reflect a DHB committed to the provision of good, quality health care?

“DHB staff continue to do an admirable job under increasingly trying circumstances, yet one of two senior executives at the DHB taken off regular duties has been asked to focus on savings in the area of quality.

“Cutting quality is the answer to a question that shouldn’t need to be asked. At a time when the Southern DHB is lagging behind virtually every other DHB in so many areas, surely it should be looking to invest in quality, rather than targeting that area for potential cost-savings. All of this is a response to this government’s chronic underfunding of health in the south.

“The DHB’s deficit is now expected to rise from an initial $9 million projected shortfall to just shy of $14 million. Labour has already committed to reviewing the population-based funding formula, if elected, to ensure that the likes of Southern DHB – geographically the largest in the country – is getting its fair share of the national health budget,” Dr Clark says.

The actions of two police officers who walked into a marae’s wharenui in the early hours of the morning to search and photograph a group of children in their pyjamas are deeply concerning, Labour’s Associate Police spokesperson Kelvin Davis says.

“There are ways and means to do things that maintain dignity and do not cause offence. Unfortunately in this case they seem to have been were ignored.

“It is not just the people of this particular marae that have been aggrieved, but all Maori and no doubt parents everywhere.

“People have the right to be treated with dignity, especially children. Instead in this case the police reportedly walked into a sacred house in their boots, and searched and photographed children as if they were all criminals.

“This was the law trampling on Maori lore.

“A far more appropriate approach would have been to talk to parents and elders, and wait until morning to question the children. They were asleep and weren’t going anywhere.

“In this instance a bit of respect and common sense would have achieved the desired outcome.

“The police are doing the right thing in meeting with marae representatives to hear their concerns,” Kelvin Davis said.

The Chief Executive and Board of Chorus must be held accountable for striking a deal that uses taxpayer money that was intended to build a new fibre network to instead plug the company’s revenue gaps, says Labour’s ICT spokesperson Clare Curran.

“The deal between Chorus and Crown Fibre Holdings shows Chorus has failed to manage its own business. The deal allows Chorus to access money that was meant to be spent on the UFB roll-out in 2018 and 2019.

“That money will obviously be used to plug revenue gaps and in 2018 Chorus is likely to go back to CFH with the begging bowl.

“CFH should never have struck this deal and Amy Adams should have made that clear. This is a short term fix.

“It shows what a debacle this contract has been from start to finish. Steven Joyce, Amy Adams and the Board and Chief Executive of Chorus must be held accountable.

“Chorus has had three years warning of the inevitable fall in copper prices. It is not CFH’s job to fix revenue gaps resulting from Chorus’ lack of strategic planning regarding the copper network.

“The Government is again changing the terms of its contract with Chorus with no transparency and no accountability in order to prop up a failing company which is using corporate blackmail to keep the fibre rollout on track.

“Labour will announce its policy on the UFB roll-out and wider ICT connections in the near future,” says Clare Curran.

A Labour Government will help protect animals from harm by prohibiting the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals.

Labour’s Animal Welfare spokesperson Trevor Mallard today launched the initiative at an event organised by Labour’s Ōhariu candidate Ginny Andersen at the Wadestown Veterinary Clinic, which after boundary changes is now in the electorate.

Trevor Mallard says most New Zealanders find the testing of cosmetics on defenceless animals abhorrent.

“No animal testing of cosmetics is carried out in New Zealand because it is barred under the Animal Welfare Act. However, there is no restriction on animal-tested beauty products being imported and sold here.

“Labour will ensure that no make-up sold in this country has been tested on animals by formally prohibiting it in New Zealand. We will also prohibit the sale of imported cosmetics that have been tested on animals. Legislation enacting Labour’s policy will be restricted to cosmetics, toiletries and fragrance. It will not affect medicines.

“The European Union last year prohibited the sale and importation of animal-tested products. As in the EU, Labour’s policy will apply both to finished products and ingredients, or combinations of ingredients.

“The Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association states most cosmetics sold here are made in the EU. So Labour’s policy will not affect most of the big cosmetic brands Kiwis use,” Trevor Mallard says.

Ginny Andersen says Labour has a strong record on animal welfare.

“Earlier this year, Labour forced the Government to back down on plans to allow testing of psychoactive products on animals despite the repeated efforts of Associate Health Minister and Ōhariu MP Peter Dunne.

“Peter Dunne’s stance is unacceptable to most of his constituents. He has ignored the wishes of Kiwis who don’t want animal testing. Labour has heard them loud and clear,” Ginny Andersen says.

Headline: Bridges cannot argue with the CPI –electricity prices are up

Today’s CPI gives the lie to Simon Bridge’s claim that power prices only rose by 2.3 % in the last year. Labour’s Energy spokesperson David Shearer says.

“Its official; the CPI index says power prices increased by 4.2% in the last quarter. This is the second highest quarterly increase in electricity prices measured by the CPI index this century

“The only other time it was higher was in June 2012 at 4.5%.

“The updated CPI shows, just how much the Government’s updated statistics downplay the increase in prices under their new reporting system.

“Yesterday the Government was smugly boasting about a ‘small’ 2.3 per cent increase in power prices to March. What the Energy Minister was not saying was that the increase is smaller because the Government has changed the way it calculates electricity pricing. The CPI proves Mr Bridges was just prevaricating.

“Ironically the power prices in the CPI index also eclipse all the other increases in prices which sat at only 0.3% in the last quarter.

“The tragedy is that too many New Zealanders are living in cold, damp houses because they cannot afford to put the heater or the electric blanket on. Today’s CPI shows that the Government should be focussed on reducing Kiwi’s power bills, not covering them up.

A Labour Government would take decisive action on power prices. Through NZ Power we will cut hundreds of dollars off an average household power bill and help to slow future increases,” said David Shearer.

Hekia Parata is ignoring overwhelming opposition by ploughing ahead with plans to gut the political independence of the teaching profession and stifle democracy on tertiary institution councils, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.

“It is no surprise a massive 91 per cent of submitters completely opposed the Education Amendment Bill. Only six submitters out of 937 fully supported the Government’s proposals.

“The Education Minister has provided no robust evidence to support the changes which are being cynically rushed through Parliament.

“Many submitters believe the proposed model represents low trust in teachers. There are no provisions for a guaranteed number of teachers on the EDUCANZ Council and no provision for those governed by the new professional body to have a say in who represents them.

“The Educational Institute has warned this will lead to the Minister handpicking Council members and questions which other sector doesn’t elect its own representatives.

“There was also concern from submitters that the inclusion of relevant minimum standards set by the State Services Commission could potentially ‘gag’ teachers from commenting on government education policy.

“Hekia Parata has also failed to demonstrate the need to reform the governance of tertiary institutions. In fact, evidence from the University of Auckland showed a similar reduction in the size of polytechnic councils had resulted in poorer performance.

“The Union of Students Associations today warned that the Government’s reforms would introduce a ‘dangerous level of direct government control’ over tertiary institution councils.

“National’s war on teachers continues. This Government has no trust in the profession.

“As usual, Hekia Parata – not the education sector – knows best. Teachers and students will pay the price of her Bill, parts of which are simply bureaucratic nonsense and unworkable,” Chris Hipkins says.

“With many other countries increasing milk production, Bloomberg is warning of a ‘global milk glut’ lasting for five years. This further emphasises the risk the current Government is taking in allowing our export base to narrow.

“New Zealand needs a more diverse economy with dynamic industries such as ICT, wood processing and manufacturing contributing to growth alongside dairy.

“We will boost our investment pool through universal KiwiSaver, direct that money to productive businesses and industries through our capital gains tax, increase innovation through research and development tax credits and tax deferrals, and provide targeted support to industries,” David Parker says.

As the Minister responsible for the Security Intelligence Service, John Key needs to front up to New Zealanders about the increasingly murky process surrounding Kim Dotcom’s residency, Labour’s Associate Intelligence and Security Spokesperson Grant Robertson said.

“As Minister responsible for the SIS it defies belief that John Key would not have been informed about a case involving an FBI investigation and a multi-millionaire applicant with criminal convictions. The SIS had put a hold on the application for some months. That was removed 90 minutes after warnings of ‘political pressure’ about the case.

“This looks extremely dodgy and, as the Minister responsible for the agency John Key’s credibility is on the line.

“The New Zealand public are owed the full story from the Prime Minister and his Ministers. At every stage of this affair details have had to be dragged out and half-truths and evasions have been the best the Government could come up with.

“It’s time for National to stop playing politics and front up to New Zealanders.

“Whatever spin is being employed now, it is clear from the new documents released yesterday that officials felt under ‘political pressure’ at the time the application was being considered. The involvement of the Chief Executive of Immigration and the Head of the SIS shows the level that this matter was being dealt with.

“The National government stands accused of once again interfering in supposedly independent processes and playing politics with the security of New Zealand. John Key has some explaining to do,” Grant Robertson said.

The latest electricity price hike, coming as it does during the coldest winter months, will once again hit hardest those least able to afford it – the elderly and those on low incomes, Labour’s Energy spokesperson David Shearer says.

“While the Government is smugly trumpeting a ‘small’ 2.3 per cent increase in power prices to the year to March, what Energy Minister Simon Bridges is not saying is that the increase is smaller because the Government has changed the way it calculates electricity pricing.

“Under the previous system rises this quarter – still above the rate of inflation – would have been higher.

“What Mr Bridges also ignores is that even the smallest increase makes a difference to Kiwis on fixed and low incomes.

“As Federation of Family Budgeting Services chief executive Raewyn Fox has pointed out rising food and fuel prices mean many people her organisation deals with dread winter because of the added pressure of paying the power bill.

“This leads to families and the elderly economising and living in cold homes as a result.

“Prices here have continued to rise in a time of less demand when a fall in demand should result in a drop in prices, as is the case in other countries.

“That is hardly evidence of the competitive market working as argued by Mr Bridges.

“Despite the Government blaming a rise in line charges for the price hikes, almost three-quarters of the increase is due to the big energy companies bumping up their prices.

“With all of the power companies now controlled by private interests, New Zealanders can expect further price rises as those companies seek to maximise profits to shareholders.

“Labour will tackle high electricity prices and create a new agency called NZ Power. It will act as a single buyer of wholesale electricity – saving New Zealand households hundreds of dollars every year, and putting a lid on future price increases.”

A damning Government-ordered review has found Nigel Murray, due to take up the role of CEO at Waikato District Health Board next week, was in charge of one of the worst-performing Canadian health authorities, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

“A just released report prepared for the Canadian Ministry of Health shows several Fraser Health Authority hospitals in British Colombia, were the worst for patient safety and quality of care.

“It also found the authority was the only one in BC which failed to reach its budget for three straight years despite a bigger-than-average annual funding increase.

“Nigel Murray, who headed that authority, takes up the reins at Waikato on July 21.

“Dr Murray is not new to controversy. He was involved in a lengthy dispute involving junior doctors in Southland in 2006-2007.

“Labour urged the DHB to hold off confirming Dr Murray’s Waikato appointment until this latest report had been released. It declined.

“I also sought information from the Ministry of Health and from Health Minister Tony Ryall as to the process around the appointment, but was given the brush off.

“Nigel Murray will be responsible for one of New Zealand’s biggest public hospitals plus an annual budget of over $1billion, and Waikato DHB is not without its own shortcomings. A recent report noted there were too many managers, poor communication between departments, and too-slow treatment of patients.

“The Board is aware of Dr Murray’s track record. It will now be accountable for any decisions he makes in the future.”

The release of documents that say that government officials were under “political pressure” to process Kim Dotcom’s residency application needs an urgent explanation from John Key, said Labour’s Associate Security and Intelligence Spokesperson Grant Robertson.

” The documents released by the Security Intelligence Service include reference to Immigration New Zealand being under “political pressure” to process Kim Dotcom’s residency application in late October 2010.

“John Key has two important questions to answer, who was exerting political pressure on officials and why were they doing it. The Dotcom affair has always had the fingerprints of National Ministers on it, John Key must finally front up to New Zealanders and explain what he and his Ministers knew and what pressure they were applying.

” On the surface it looks like more of the same from National – interfering and playing politics with what are meant to be independent decisions.

” Only a couple of hours after being informed of the “political pressure” being placed on Immigration New Zealand, the SIS lifted their hold on the residency application. A week later Mr Dotcom was granted residency.

” The government has never been up front with New Zealanders about the Kim Dotcom affair. We have seen evasion, half- truths and misleading statements from John Key and others.

“The documents also indicate that the decision about what to do with Mr Dotcom’s residency was heavily influenced by the “likely” joint operation against Mr Dotcom between the FBI and the New Zealand Police. This raises serious concerns as to whether this decision was being made independently in the best interests of New Zealand.

” It seems the National government’s modus operandi is to inappropriately intervene in the supposedly independent decisions of officials. New Zealanders are owed an explanation once and for all about what John Key and his Ministers knew and why they have acted so evasively on this issue,” Grant Robertson said.

The rising death toll in Gaza is alarming and is likely to worsen with escalating violence from both sides, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shearer.

“Only a truce and agreed negotiations will prevent the unnecessary deaths of more innocent people.

“In the past, the Egyptian government was able to play a part in bringing the Palestinian and Israeli sides together. Let us hope they will do so again.

“As of today, 80 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed.

“Tragically, many of those casualties were children.

“Hamas and associated groups have launched more than 160 rockets, including missiles that have struck into the heart of Israel with a far greater range than ever before. As yet, there have been no reports of Israeli casualties.

“Sadly it is extremists who are once again setting the agenda.

“Rockets and bullets are not the answer, a constructive dialogue is the only way that the violence in Gaza will end,” says David Shearer.

Eight adverse reports relating to rest home care in as many months, resulting in several deaths, cannot go unchallenged, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

In the latest report this week, concerns were raised by a coroner over the death of an elderly woman who died of a heart attack after a fall.

“That follows another coroner’s report that found an Otaki woman died from being given the wrong medication by a caregiver, an apology from a Nelson retirement village to the family of a 95-year-old after it was found inadequate care led to her death and a Waikato retirement home’s care compared to a concentration camp.

“Just last month five elderly women died following an outbreak of strep A at a Christchurch rest home.

“These events should give us all pause to think about how we are caring for our older people.

“Given an aging population means increasing numbers of our parents and grandparents will be living in rest homes it is vital they are provided with the best quality care and the safest possible environments.

“Many of the facilities are functioning with too few staff, many of whom have no training or qualifications, are on low rates of pay and are working long hours to cover shortages. At the same time the needs of residents are higher. That is a recipe for disaster.

“According to the Aged Care Association older people in New Zealand are more likely to end up in retirement facilities than in any other country, yet for too long the sector has been under-valued and funded.

“Reports and reviews over the years have led to some new initiatives being implemented, but maintaining a level of care we would all want for one of our own family requires more than a continued reliance on the goodwill of staff – it requires action.

“Caring for our elderly is as important as caring for our young. There can be no more calls for improvement. We need to make improvements now.

“That means establishing an Aged Care Commissioner to investigate claims of neglect and elder abuse, and developing a comprehensive aged care strategy that values those who work in the sector, something Labour has been working on in conjunction with the industry.”

A Labour Government will support the ICT sector to make New Zealand a tech-savvy nation and put ICT at the heart of our economic upgrade strategy, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

Among several new initiatives David Cunliffe announced today are plans to establish 1200 digital apprenticeships and support first-time entrepreneurs with ‘Garage Grants’.

“Technology is a game changer. We can become a prosperous nation supported by a vibrant IT industry.

“Our focus on investment, innovation and industry will see a digital upgrade to create better jobs that pay higher wages where they are desperately needed.

“To boost innovation we will work with industry and public science bodies to develop new products and technologies. We will also back start-ups with ‘Garage Grants’ which will enable entrepreneurs who want to transform their clever ideas into something big.

“To encourage investment we will provide tax deferrals in the form of accelerated depreciation to ICT manufacturers and research and development tax incentives to encourage investment in new technology and plant.

“To support industry development Labour will review the points system for the migration skills shortage list, and we will establish 1200 digital apprenticeships at a cost of $2.1 million in the first year.

“We will also:

Create a government-backed app store to assist fledgling New Zealand software developers to get into the market

Instruct government agencies to implement a whole of government approach to Open Software

And establish the role of Chief Technology Officer reporting directly to the Prime Minister and Cabinet

“Labour’s Digital Economic Upgrade requires a hands-on government that knows what it takes to get us there and which isn’t afraid to lead, take risks, and enable people,” David Cunliffe said.

“There will be a further policy announcement in the future on digital infrastructure and connectivity.”

New Zealand has some of the dumbest electricity ‘smart’ meters in the world, says Labour’s Energy spokesperson David Shearer.

“Imagine being able to set washing machines, dryers, dishwashers to turn on in the middle of the night when power is cheap. Or being able to see and modify second, by every second, electricity usage in the home on a computer, TV, smart phone. That was the real possibility five years ago when smart electricity meters began to be installed.

“Indeed, in a speech in 2009, Gerry Brownlee, then Energy Minister, boasted about the wonderful future that lay ahead for consumers.

“But the government failed to set minimum standards for smart meters, unlike the rest of the world. Instead, it argued the market would take care of setting standards.

“As a result successive ministers including current Minister of Energy Simon Bridges, have deprived more than one million Kiwi households, where the dumb meters have been installed, that wonderful opportunity.

“With Kiwis programming their power usage for other, cheaper times of the day, electricity peaks that occur in the evening would no longer spike upwards.

“Less demand at the peaks reduces the need to switch on expensive gas fired ‘peaker’ plants – from which electricity companies make huge profits. And, the less gas used for electricity generation means lower carbon emissions.

“For just $20 extra cost, according to the Commissioner for the Environment, smart meters could have included a chip that would allow for consumer vastly more options. To retrofit an already installed ‘smart meter’ will cost $175.

“Countries, such as Australia, UK and most of the OECD have set minimum standards for smart meters. A Labour led Government will set the standard for smart meters so that Kiwis get the benefit.

“Right now the real winners are the power companies. They receive excellent data, every 30 minutes, from more than one million smart meters installed in households across New Zealand about each household’s electricity use. But having consumers conserve power, economise or take control over their power use is not great for their business,” says David Shearer.

Labour’s review of Whanau Ora will identify models that work well throughout the country, what best practice looks like and how this will be used to frame new policy, says Māori Affairs Spokesperson Nanaia Mahuta.

“Māori Service providers and organisations have already started these collaborations that improve outcomes for whanau and Labour recognises that positive gains that have been made. However not all Government agencies are committed to this approach.

”Labour wants to take forward the essential parts of what works into future thinking about the Whanau Ora.

“No amount of mischief making will detract from our intention to provide a suite of policies across the whole of Government that will tackle inequality and poverty and improve opportunities for Māori under a Labour Government.

“We are committed to a productive economy that grows jobs in the regions, provides homes for our whanau and better opportunities for our children and young people, says Nanaia Mahuta.

“This focus can only enhance the objectives of Māori service providers who want to make a difference in the lives of so many vulnerable whanau that want to get ahead.”

A Labour Government will restore the right of Cantabrians to make their own decisions about the future of their communities, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“For almost four years Cantabrians have had the right to determine what they want for their communities over-ridden by a law which gives extraordinary powers to the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority and the Earthquake Recovery Minister.

“It is past time that power was returned to the community. It is Canterbury’s future; it should be Canterbury’s choice.

“To help bring that about a Labour Government will immediately appoint a board of qualified locals with the relevant skills, expertise and community connections to govern CERA.

“Members will be tasked with overseeing the smooth transition of CERA and the return of its powers and responsibilities to appropriate and competent local organisations.

“It is expected that CERA powers will be fully transitioned by the expiry of the CERA legislation in 2016.

“Another important step to restoring democracy in Canterbury is to reinstate local body representatives to Environment Canterbury (ECan), a right denied residents since the sacking of the previous council in 2010, as soon as possible.

“That could mean an election as soon as 2015.

“My team and I are also committed to working alongside Christchurch’s mayor and councillors to come up with a fair and sustainable solution to the city’s ballooning debt, largely a consequence of a government imposed cost-sharing arrangement.

“There will be no set restrictions on the options that can be negotiated in these discussions.

“Christchurch has been through some extremely tough times. Its people deserve a voice, and they deserve to be listened to. Labour will do that,” David Cunliffe said.

A damning report showing that burglary statistics were doctored in Counties Manukau over three years, warrants more than a verbal assurance from Minister Anne Tolley that it has never happened elsewhere, says Labour’s Police spokesperson Jacinda Ardern.

“We are absolutely reliant on crime statistics to give us an accurate picture of the level of crime in New Zealand, and whether progress has been made in certain areas. To find that these statistics were deliberately manipulated undermines the entire system, not to mention the work of other police districts who have recorded their crimes accurately.

“We have long had concerns that targets can lead to distorted behaviour. If government wants to set goals to reduce certain types of crime, they have to be incredibly careful to ensure it happens in reality, not just on paper.

“The government has been crowing about crime statistics being at their lowest point in decades. This report leaves a question mark over that.

“The system for recording crime and incidents requires quite deliberate actions to be manipulated in this way. The Minister needs to deal with this situation transparently so we know why, and how this occurred, and how the audit of recorded crime failed to pick this issue up.

“For the sake of both the public, and the police, the Minister needs to demonstrate that this incident was indeed isolated,“ Jacinda Ardern said.

Labour MP Kelvin Davis has offered his Whangarei office as a coordination centre for people needing help as a result of the recent flooding throughout Northland.

As from 9am Monday staff and volunteers will field calls to assist where possible.

“There will be people out there needing help but don’t know who to turn to. It is the role of Members of Parliament to help where they can in such situations.” Kelvin Davis says.

Mr Davis’ office can be called if people need help to deal with government agencies, Councils, food banks or other.

A team is being coordinated to assist with small scale tidying up around Whangarei, but this may be extended if volunteer groups around the north can be coordinated.

Kelvin Davis’ office number is 09 430 7922 or texts can be sent to 022 0616052, or he can be messaged via his Kelvin Davis MP Facebook page.

“In the aftermath of what the north has experienced over the last few days, it is important for people to know their elected representatives will put aside electioneering to help the community,” says Kelvin Davis.

“Our exports of partially processed casings to China have been halted and no one at the Ministry of Primary Industries will say why. It does not appear to be a food safety issue.

“What is going on with the Ministry and its lack of oversight of our trade with China? China is our biggest and most important market. Exports of casings to China were worth $98 million in the 2012/13 financial year.

“Since the restructuring of MPI into a ‘super ministry’ we have had nothing but ‘super’ problems: contaminated meat products, false botulism scares and the meat on wharves fiasco. The list goes on.

“Nathan Guy is once again missing in action. He needs to step up and show some leadership before this valuable trade is lost,” Damien O’Connor says.

A Labour Government will put ICT at the highest level of Government by creating the position of Chief Technology Officer to directly advise the Prime Minister and Cabinet on Information Technology issues, Labour’s ICT spokesperson Clare Curran says.

“Reporting directly to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will undertake a wide-ranging inquiry into how information technology projects are managed by government agencies, and ensure systems work better and more efficiently in future.

“We will also mandate the CTO to produce and present an annual ‘Digital Technology Roadmap’ and a ‘National Digital Architecture’ for New Zealand.

“For too long, Information Technology has been seen as a backwater in government. ICT is so much more than simply paying Chorus to roll out Ultra-Fast Broadband, badly managing data breaches and IT upgrades across government agencies.

“ICT will be a major driver of economic growth in Labour’s modern New Zealand.

Information technology is as transformational for New Zealand in the 21st Century as refrigerated shipping was in the 19th Century.

“The CTO will be the trusted face for the New Zealand public on digital issues. They will be accountable to the Prime Minister and the public, rather than being beholden to the industry.

“From speaking to industry and consumer groups, we know that Labour’s CTO already has widespread support across the sector.

“The CTO will spearhead Labour’s ‘Digital Upgrade’, to be launched prior to the Net Hui conference on Friday morning (July 11). Labour’s ‘Digital Upgrade’ is the first of two ICT policy announcements, with the second to be announced closer to the election.

“The next Labour Government will put a stake in the ground and make New Zealand a tech-savvy nation. Our ‘Digital Upgrade’ will support New Zealand’s transformation into a more prosperous nation, supported by a vibrant technology industry where everyone benefits and our kids can aspire to having well paid jobs in a thriving export tech sector, Clare Curran says.

The two-track housing market that has developed under National is underlined in QV’s latest report, Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford says.

“QV’s index shows many homeowners in the regions are facing declining equity in their properties, while in Auckland and Canterbury home ownership has become a distant dream.

“Looking at house prices over the last six years it is clear that values in Auckland and Canterbury have increased dramatically, yet the rest of the country has been going backwards.

“Auckland house prices have gone up 30% and Canterbury about 20% when you adjust for inflation. The rest of the country has seen values decline over that period. In areas such as Tauranga and Wellington they have been flat-lining but in other areas – the Far North (-26%), Southland (-17%), Waitomo (-33%)* ¬– have fallen sharply.

“The Government’s failed housing policy is exacerbating this two-track housing market. Auckland and Canterbury are struggling to build their way out of acute housing shortages, and the Government’s hands-off approach has seen housing accords signed but not a single new house built in the special housing areas a year after they were announced.

“Meanwhile loan to value ratio lending restrictions (LVRs) and interest rates heading north of 8% – both introduced by the Reserve Bank to deal with the problems in Auckland and Canterbury – are chilling the housing markets of regional New Zealand.

“The Government seems oblivious to the situation facing homeowners in places where the value of houses has taken a massive hit since 2008, places like Southland and the Far North. People have spent a lifetime paying off the mortgage, and now their biggest asset is wasting away as they face retirement.

“It is more urgent than ever that Government intervenes decisively in the failed Auckland and Canterbury housing markets. The current approach of tweaking the planning rules and hoping a broken market will fix itself has failed completely.

“Labour will build 10,000 affordable starter homes every year for ten years, tax speculators with a Capital Gains Tax that excludes the family home, and reform monetary policy to bring down interest rates. Bold action to fix Auckland and Canterbury will remove the need for the LVRs and increased interest rates that are hurting the regions.”